Construction to resurface Merchant Street between 12th Avenue and Interstate 35 began today. The project restricts Merchant Street to a single lane and affects the entrances to several parking lots on the west side of Emporia State, according to a press release from ESU.

Resurfacing Merchant Street will take around a month, according to an email sent Sept. 27 to all students, faculty and staff.

The road work mainly affects the parking lot north of White Library and the parking lot west of White Library and the Science Hall.

The north parking lot, which has meters and Gold spots, will serve as an entrance to the west lot, according to the email.

“All parking (except Handicapped) will be removed from this lot,” the email said.

Additionally, the Merchant Street entrance and exit to the north lot are now closed. To enter the parking area behind the library, Science Hall and Cremer Hall, drivers have to go through Kellogg Circle and enter through the metered and gold lot past Plumb Hall, according to the email.

Pedestrians are encouraged to change their routes, depending on where the paving work is each day.

If work is being done around the intersection on 12th Avenue, the email suggests that pedestrians cross at 15th Street or 18th Street.

On days when construction is further north, pedestrians may cross at 12th Avenue, according to the email.

Due to the restricted access to campus through Merchant Street, people should alter their routes and get to ESU from Highland Street and Market Street, according to the map detailing the construction locations.

To avoid construction when exiting from the interstate, the map indicates using the Burlingame exit and heading towards campus from 12th Avenue.

“We encourage you to use patience when you arrive and leave the campus and take into account extra time to navigate to and through campus,” the press release said.