LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is warning students, faculty and staff to expect significant parking and pedestrian disruptions beginning Monday when contractors start major renovation work at William T. Young Library that will last through December.

Two simultaneous projects will affect campus traffic and circulation: a basement renovation and a roof replacement at the central library building, which houses general undergraduate collections and materials across multiple academic disciplines.

The roof replacement project, scheduled to conclude Aug. 10, will create the most immediate disruptions. Sixteen parking spaces in the Columbia Avenue West Lot will be closed for construction dumpsters, and a crane will be positioned periodically in another nearby parking area. A roofing materials trailer will temporarily block the library drop-off area, and approximately 10 parking spaces in the visitor lot will be unavailable periodically through June 11.

The basement renovation will continue through year-end, with intermittent access impacts to the library loading dock. The dock area will be used for construction dumpsters and crane placement as needed.

The renovation projects are part of broader summer improvements affecting multiple library locations across campus. University officials are urging pedestrians and cyclists to exercise caution while traveling through the work area and to expect altered pathways during construction.

The university announced the projects this week with details on which parking areas will be most affected. Transportation Services, reachable at 859-257-5757 or Transportation@uky.edu, is available to answer questions about parking and alternative routes.

Young Library, dedicated in 1998 at a cost of $58 million, remains the most expensive construction project in UK's history. The 350,000-square-foot building serves as a federal depository and central research facility for the university and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.