California Boulevard at Cal Poly will be temporarily closed to through traffic starting June 30, as the university advances work on a major infrastructure upgrade tied to its sustainability and campus expansion goals. The road closure, announced by Facilities Management & Development, will last from 6 a.m. Sunday, June 30 to 5 p.m. Thursday, August 8, and will affect the stretch between Campus Way and the north end of Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

While the closure will apply to general vehicular traffic, the road will remain accessible to emergency vehicles, construction crews, pedestrians, and cyclists, though delays are possible due to active construction zones.

The detour is necessary for ongoing work on Cal Poly’s $35.5 million Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) project, located just south of the Swine Unit. While sewer system installation is underway, campus access will still be available via Highland Drive past the lower softball fields and Grand Avenue past Vista Grande Dining Hall, the university confirmed.

The WRF project is one of several infrastructure initiatives aligned with Cal Poly’s long-term Campus Master Plan and is designed to treat a portion of the campus’s raw wastewater, which currently flows to the City of San Luis Obispo’s treatment facility. The new on-campus plant will disinfect water to meet Title 22 standards, allowing it to be reused for irrigating agricultural lands and recreational fields.

According to Facilities Management and Development, the project is a key step in improving operational efficiency and reducing long-term water utility expenses. “Potable supply and treatment capacity [are] identified as the primary constraints that would limit campus growth,” the department stated in its project summary, highlighting that the Water Reclamation Facility addresses a core infrastructure challenge.

The project not only supports day-to-day operations but also plays a critical role in Cal Poly’s Campus Master Plan, which aims to expand student enrollment to 25,000 by 2035 and increase housing, academic, and recreational facilities across campus. The Master Plan, unveiled in June 2019, outlines a multi-decade roadmap to sustainably accommodate that growth.

The WRF project is just one of several construction initiatives underway during Cal Poly’s summer break. According to Inside Cal Poly, other projects include:

• Vista Grande Meadows, a landscaping and recreation space near student dining areas.
• The John Madden Football Center, part of the university’s athletic facility expansion.
• The Water Infrastructure Improvement Project, complementing the WRF by upgrading related pipelines and systems.
• Renovations to the Kennedy Library, which are expected to modernize the facility for 21st-century learning.
• The new Student Success Center, aimed at enhancing academic advising and student support services.

The flurry of summer construction is timed to take advantage of lighter campus traffic, minimizing disruptions during the academic year.

Cal Poly is encouraging students, faculty, and staff to plan ahead and use alternate routes when traveling to campus during the closure period.

Let me know if you’d like an updated map graphic or version tailored to students, staff, or local residents.

Originally reported by Seth Pintar in Mustang News.