Conley Avenue parking garage reopens after $5.5 million repair project
Erika McGuire
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Conley Avenue parking garage reopened Friday, nearly a year after it was shut down for repairs.
The structure at 511 Conley Ave. closed on Aug. 17, 2024, for maintenance. But just two months later, the university announced it would remain closed until fall 2025 to address serious repair needs.
Records show the university was warned about the deteriorating condition in July 2024. The garage — which can hold more than 700 vehicles — was found to have significant issues following a walkthrough inspection by Braun Intertec in September 2024.
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The engineering report revealed severe cracking on the west side of Level 2, possibly caused by movement from a broken sprinkler pipe under Level 1. The inspection also noted a “badly cracked and spalled: south foundation wall, along with damaged slab tendons and anchors on Level 2 either due to poor construction or decades of wear from heavy use.”
It was then recommended that the University of Missouri to close the garage for needed repairs.
The University of Missouri said in a press release Wednesday, “The Conley reopening follows the successful on-time completion of a $5.5 million maintenance and repair project, designed to preserve and extend the life of one of our most used parking facilities,”
Other records obtained by ABC 17 News show no violations were found in the University Avenue and Tiger Avenue garages.
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The university is also launching its new parking program that includes pricing tiers based on location demand for staff, faculty and all students.
A spokesperson said the new program was created after the campus community was not satisfied with the limited flexibility of the previous parking model.
A new shuttle route, the MU Health Care loop, will also be added starting Friday.
The route loops between Champions Drive and Providence Point with stops near Missouri Orthopedic Institute and University Hospital.
According to the university, the route will run weekdays from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. and again from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
The Conley Avenue parking garage was built in 1987.