Updated Oct. 16 at 12:02 p.m. to include information on the university's proposal.
East Haggard Avenue will be closed this weekend from noon on Saturday, Oct. 17 through noon on Sunday, Oct. 18 for Homecoming Weekend, according to a press release from the town of Elon. The closure will be from North WIlliamson Avenue to North O’Kelly Avenue, and there will be traffic signs to detour traffic around the area. Detours for east to west travel include Trollinger Avenue to the south and Phoenix Drive to the north.
This decision comes after Elon University submitted a revised proposal to the town of Elon asking the town to close Haggard for Homecoming as well as election week, which includes Election Day and the following weekend.
According to the town of Elon police department, the temporary closure this weekend is not approving part of the university’s proposal to close the road. The university submitted a separate “special events form” for the closure specifically for Homecoming. This submission would include details such as a map of the closure site, insurance verification and an emergency action plan. The request is approved by heads of the police department, fire department, public works and administrative staff for the town of Elon, as East Haggard Avenue is a road maintained by the town of Elon, not the Department of Transportation, like some other roads in the area.
The town of Elon police department will not be involved in the closure unless requested by campus safety and police.
Richard Roedner, Elon town manager, told Elon News Network in an interview that he hoped the town could approve parts of the second proposal, however he does not think a permanent closure of the road is the best solution.
The first proposal submitted, which only cited a need for more outdoor learning space, was denied by the Board of Aldermen. President Connie Book spoke to board members at their meeting asking to close the road due to security reasons, and the second proposal reflects those concerns.
According to an email from Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley, the road closure will allow for the university to set up “Community on the Commons,” an event on Saturday afternoon on Young Commons. The event will include music from WSOE, several student performers and bands, as well as lawn games. Masks and physical distancing are required.