ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan Regents, at their Feb. 17 meeting, approved replacing the 80-year-old steam tunnel located just south of the Central Heating Plant.

“The tunnel, which serves 60 percent of the Central Campus buildings, is at full capacity,” Robert Kasdin, U-M executive vice president, said. “Future load needs required by improvements and changes to the Central Campus buildings cannot be supported with the existing piping, and the size of the tunnel cannot accept new or larger piping.

“A plan has been developed to replace and relocate the portion of this tunnel that is between the Central Power Plant and the School of Dentistry. This larger tunnel will allow increased capacity to the School of Dentistry and to the remainder of the existing tunnel line that serves other Central Campus buildings. This will adequately supply present needs and future growth and provide an efficient distribution system.

“In addition, other utilities in the proximity of this tunnel will be improved including the water, sewer and gas piping and the electrical duct bank.”

The project is estimated to cost $11 million.

Regents