Students in William & Mary’s new West Woods area will have a safe, direct route to and from the heart of campus when the residential and dining facilities open in fall 2025.

Construction has begun on a pedestrian bridge to connect the area, located where Yates Hall previously stood, to the university’s student life neighborhood, which includes the Sadler Center, Campus Living Center, McLeod Tyler Wellness Center and Cohen Career Center.

The project is part of phase one of the Housing & Dining Comprehensive Facilities Plan, which aims to revitalize the living and learning spaces at William & Mary by renovating or replacing 80% of campus residences and developing two new, modern dining spaces. 

“The bridge project supports the housing and dining master plan to modernize and revitalize William & Mary’s residential facilities, therefore enhancing the student experience,” said Senior Project Manager Amber Hall.

The pedestrian bridge was planned to provide students a safe, accessible path to campus and address grade differences between the West Woods area and student life neighborhood, said Hall.

Thanks to a Green Fee grant, permeable pavers for the project are being installed at grade, which will protect existing root systems and provide stormwater filtration benefits, said Hall.

Construction on the bridge began in December 2024 and is expected to be completed for the fall 2025 semester.

While construction is in progress, existing pathways in the woods are temporarily closed, and signs are posted near the Campus Living Center, Crim Dell, Swem Library parking lot and Randolph Complex to provide pedestrians with detour information. Vehicular traffic will not be rerouted, said Hall.

“The completion of the pedestrian bridge is an exciting step towards connecting various districts of campus,” said Hall. “The William & Mary community will benefit from new walkways, which enhance our existing pathway framework.”

The first part of the West Woods project – West Woods 1 – includes a 50,000-square-foot dining hall (West Woods Commons) and four residence halls (Poplar Hall, Maple Hall, Oak Hall and Pine Hall), providing housing to 935 students. Those facilities are expected to open this fall. 

The second part of the project – West Woods 2 – includes the redevelopment of the Randolph Complex, which is expected to be completed in fall 2027.

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More information on these and other current construction projects at William & Mary is available on the University Architect website.