FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ---  Construction of the new University of Arkansas south campus parking deck will begin soon, but some subsurface blasting will be necessary to prepare the site. As a result, University officials have authorized a pre-blast survey in the area for the protection of surrounding residents and property owners and also will hold a public information meeting in the near future to provide information and answer questions.

Rick Hamilton, UA construction coordinator, has given the project's general contractor, Baldwin and Shell, permission to start the Bradley Company on the pre-blast survey work. This involves contacting nearby property owners and canvassing the areas that could be affected.

"The subsurface blasting for the parking deck will be similar to that just performed at the site for the new Fayetteville Public Library," Hamilton said, "and the Bradley Company is, in fact, the same firm that performed the survey work for the library. In situations such as this, we always use an independent firm to conduct the pre-blast surveys for the protection of both the property owners and the contractor."

The south campus parking deck, to be located at the southwest corner of Duncan and Williams streets, will provide nearly 2,100 parking spaces. It is expected to be completed by November 2004.

The south campus parking deck is one of three decks planned for completion by 2010. Growing out of a campus master parking plan, the decks are needed to provide increased parking for faculty, staff, and students in view of the planned growth of campus and to compensate for the removal of surface parking lots close to the campus core for new academic and residential facilities.