FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Construction crews will begin putting up fencing around the front of Old Main and north to the Social Work Building on Monday, May 16, as they get ready to do a thorough restoration of the front entrance to Old Main.

The fencing will create a construction area in front of Old Main and a safe temporary roadway for construction vehicles to get from Maple Street to the construction site.

Pedestrians will still be able to use Senior Walk on the north side of Old Main. There will be gates in the fence on either side of Senior Walk and a gate operator will swing the gates closed whenever a delivery vehicle comes through. That should only block the walk for five minutes at a time.

The front portico and doorway of Old Main will be fully restored, including the front steps, columns and the doors themselves. No one will be able to use the front entrance to the building from May 16 until early August.

The rear and side entrances to Old Main will remain accessible for anyone entering or leaving the building.

The restoration work is being done by CDI Contractors of Fayetteville. The U of A received a matching grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council to help pay for the cost of the restoration.