The University of Northern Iowa is known for its extremely walkable campus. Consisting of over 67,000 feet of sidewalks, students can traverse to every corner of the university with relative ease and time. This spring, that is about to change. 

Construction contractors from various companies in the Cedar Valley are set to descend upon the treasured sidewalks starting April 31, 2026. When asked as to what sidewalks would be under maintenance, contractors answered: 

“All the ones you use daily.” 

This is just part of a three-step phase that would create the most inefficient and frustrating walks around campus. Each sidewalk will undergo massive renovations to ensure students have the hardest possible experience in getting to their destinations on time. 

To get a better understanding of why these changes were made, we reached out to the Director Liaison of Internal Sidewalk Infrastructure and Development, Russ T. Bolts. 

“We wanted to do something for the campus community that won’t really benefit anyone in the long run. Contractor’s crews are also very pale right now, so doing some standing around in the sun could really benefit their vitamin D.” 

Bolts has been Director Liaison for just over a year, having been hired during a time of known peace and prosperity in the sidewalk community.

The sidewalk construction process will include breaking up, gathering and exporting the concrete. After this, they anticipate letting the construction sites “air out” for 9 to 12 months, making sure not to be seen doing work by anyone during this time period. 

The next part of the sidewalk renewal process includes hanging around looking busy, and lining up and pouring concrete so badly that it winds up more uneven and worse than before. How long will these renovations last? Estimates say not before we all graduate, but before the heat death of the universe. Get used to caution tape and lots of chain link fences.