BRADFORD, Pa. – A summer construction project at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will require closing a small part of the Richard E. McDowell Community Trail to ensure pedestrian safety.

            The trail will be closed July 16 from the parking lot next to the Richard E. and Ruth McDowell Sport and Fitness Center to Dorothy Lane.

            The parking lot also will be closed from July 12-17, and the Sport and Fitness Center will be closed July 16.

            The one-day closure is needed because a large crane will be used to place new HVAC units on the building as part of a $4.35 million project this summer that will add air conditioning to the KOA Arena inside the Sport and Fitness Center.

            The project includes updating existing air conditioning in the newer part of the building, which was added in 2002 to the original structure and includes the KOA Arena, Duke Aquatic Center, dance studio, classrooms, and offices for faculty and athletic staff. Air conditioning will also be added to the hallway, locker rooms and offices in the original part of the building constructed in the 1970s.

            Additionally, the project includes replacing the building’s roof.

            The plumbing and mechanical contractor for the project is Mazza Mechanical Services; the electrical contractor is Pure Tech Inc.; and the general contractor that will replace flat portions of roofing is Bob Cummins Construction.

A $2 million Public Improvement Grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will cover part of the project’s cost.