A portion of Chucky Mullins Drive running from south of Highway 6 to Old Taylor Road will be closed April 16 through sometime in January.

The Oxford Police Department tweeted the news Friday; however, the closure did not originate from the police department.

“It is primarily a university and city project,” OPD Maj. Jeff McCutchen said. “We’re just in charge of informing the community and helping enforce the closure.”

Chucky Mullins will be closed for traffic on April 16th all the way through…… January 2019. pic.twitter.com/Cri8rd0AmP

— Oxford Police Dept (@OxfordPolice) April 6, 2018

Many members of the university community were surprised by the closing, including senior psychology major Kate Prendergast.

“I would like to know more about the closing,” Prendergast said. “I frequently use Chucky Mullins to go running at the Whirlpool Trails and would like to know if I’ll still be able to access it. It’s also a big access point on campus, and closing it will back up traffic.”

Mike Harris, director of the Department of Parking and Transportation on campus, said he expected some sort of backlash.

“Whenever roads close, people aren’t happy, but the administration made the decision based on the need of the construction project on Chucky Mullins,” Harris said.

The Department of Parking and Transportation will be working with the Department of Facilities Planning, to reroute traffic around the construction of the new South Campus Recreation Center.

“The closure is only temporary – until January 2019 – and we are working to make it as seamless as possible,” Harris said. “Students will have to use Old Taylor or Highway 6 to come onto campus, and the Green Line will be rerouted through All-American Drive to the observatory instead.”

When Chucky Mullins reopens, a new traffic light will have been constructed at the intersection of Chucky Mullins Drive and Old Taylor Road, as well as a recreational facility and transportation hub south of the Whirlpool Trails.