Pedestrians may gain exclusive right of way to a portion of Pollock Road if a study indicates closing part of it will not cause significant traffic problems elsewhere on campus.

University's Department of Safety officials began profiling changes in campus traffic patterns March 26 after blockades were placed on Pollock Road between Fraser Road and Schwab Auditorium. The blockades will remain in place until the semester ends.

The University study began out of concern expressed by officials for the safety of the numerous pedestrians who cross Pollock Road throughout the day, said David Stormer, assistant vice president for the Department of Safety and Environmental Health.

Results from this profile will be compared with a profile of traffic patterns taken earlier this semester before the closing, Stormer said.

If the study indicates that other campus traffic is not significantly disrupted, the area between Fraser Road and Schwab Auditorium could be closed to motor vehicles as early as next fall, Stormer said.

The area might be closed completely or only during specific days and hours, Stormer said.

If the impact on surrounding traffic patterns is too great, the University will look at more expensive and time-consuming alternatives to ensure pedestrian safety, Stormer said.

While no serious accidents involving pedestrians have occurred in the area since 1970, accidents are a definite possibility, Stormer said.

"It's not the cross traffic that's a hazard but rather the east-west traffic and the oblique walkers," Stormer said.

Some students are unsure why officials consider the closing necessary.

"Some people I know get really worried when crossing it, but I've never had a problem," said Eric Sebastian (freshman-electrical engineering). The traffic is really not that bad, he added.

"I don't see why they should close the road," said Bill Lezinski (sophomore-accounting.) "It doesn't really cause that much trouble for pedestrians. Besides it will be a major inconvenience to those drivers who travel through here."

The possible closing will cause fewer problems today then it would have 10 years ago because people have found alternative routes to the congested area on their own, Stormer said.

If the road is closed, it should be only for certain hours or days, Sebastian said.

"It seems kind of dumb to close it during odd hours when only a few people cross the road," he said.

It would be better if Pollock Road were closed only during certain hours so people unfamiliar with campus would not have so many problems getting around campus, said Suki Meris (sophomore-chemical engineering).