Thursday, December 12, 2013

Accessibility upgrades coming at UIS

Work is expected to begin early next semester on upgrading accessibility at the University of Illinois Springfield campus.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s office on Thursday announced a capital investment of more than $542,000 to upgrade accessibility at UIS.

The project was approved several months ago as part of Quinn’s $31 billion Illinois Jobs Now! Program, but the contract for the work was only recently awarded.

“This work will upgrade accessibility on campus so all students, staff and visitors can have equal access to the university’s services and programs,” Quinn said in a press release. “The project will also employ a number of construction workers, which will help the local economy.”

The contract was awarded to Johnco Construction of Mackinaw, the lowest of seven bidders at $542,6000. It includes Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades including restroom renovation, new signs, assistive listening systems, additional handicapped parking and wheelchair accessibility accommodations, campus telephones and accessible drinking fountains.

The work also will include new fume hoods and emergency shower controls in science labs.

The story was published on December 13, 2013 in The State Journal-Register.

Read the article online