In continued efforts to improve the safety of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community, IUP will convert Pratt Drive between Grant and Locust streets to a pedestrian walkway.
This is the section of Pratt Drive in front of the Sutton Suites—to be named Gealy W. Wallwork Residence Hall.
In order to safely accommodate traffic traveling between Locust and Grant streets, the university has widened Garman Avenue by three feet, repaved the street, and widened the sidewalk along the street.
Garman Avenue is an Indiana Borough street that is parallel to this section of Pratt Drive.
Pratt Drive's ownership was turned over to IUP forty years ago by Indiana Borough Council.
After becoming university owned, the former dirt road, which ran from South Street to Glass Street, was lengthened to extend from School Street to the Eberly College of Business and Information Technology parking lot. The street has continued to be maintained by IUP. These improvements were made as part of the Residential Revival project and were funded by the Foundation for IUP.
The Pratt Drive pedestrian walkway will be accessible for emergency vehicles at all times.
These safety initiatives were made because the construction of the Sutton Suites, completed in August 2009, created additional pedestrian traffic in this area along Pratt Drive.
The change in vehicle traffic to Garman Avenue also eliminates a sharp turn and a five-street intersection at Grant Street and Pratt Drive that has created traffic congestion and hazards.
In addition to the pedestrian walkway conversion, a parking lot along Locust Street has been added for IUP employee parking.