During the past few months, the road has undergone numerous changes. Recent additions include new storm drains and a pedestrian island in the center of University Drive, near the Foster Avenue intersection.

Another addition is a cement "trumpet," a type of median intended to restrict traffic flow from cars turning left from University Drive onto Foster Avenue.

Also, the surface of the road has been repaved.

The trumpet is the result of the council's decision to appease the local residents' complaints of high vehicle traffic in the area, Daubert said.

He said that in recent years, traffic has nearly quadrupled on Foster Avenue from cars using the street as a short cut to get from Beaver Avenue to University Drive, without using the College Avenue intersection.

"The initial reaction we have had from residents on Foster Avenue has been very positive, but the borough will be conducting a study next month to measure how effective the new construction has been," Daubert said.

Although there was some dispute within the council as to where the new pedestrian island was going to be placed, Daubert said he thinks the island will benefit those who must cross University Drive during busy, high traffic times of the day.

"I thought the best place for the island would be further down the street, closer to Bellair Avenue, where most of the residents who live on that street tend to cross," he said.

Daubert said the final decision for placement of the median from Foster Avenue was due to the concern of businesses closer to Bellair Avenue.

Businesses were worried there would be too much congestion around the intersection and patrons would have trouble turning from University Drive into their parking lots.

Some residents who cross University Drive everyday to reach the University Terrace apartment complex, 825 Bellair Ave., said so far, they do not think the new pedestrian island has made a difference.

"I don't normally cross the street until I get closer to Bellair, and I haven't seen anyone use the island yet. I never have," Mandy Eckenrode (junior-biology) said.

Eckenrode said she will continue to cross University Drive closer to the Bellair Avenue intersection, despite the addition of the island to make crossing the street easier for pedestrians.

"It just seems more convenient to me, and there is still construction equipment on the sidewalk where you would cross even if you used the island," she said.

Ruben Burgos (junior-crime, law and justice) said he thinks the island will not really benefit those crossing the street to Bellair Avenue.

"I think it's kind of pointless," he said.

"They should have made the road wider instead of making it more narrow with the island."

Burgos also said he has not seen anyone using the new island since it has been built, despite the fact that it was designed specifically for pedesterian use.

"Even if I did use it during busy times of the day, I think it would still take five minutes to cross the street," Burgos said.