The deteriorating steam tunnel near Altgeld Hall has repair funding in the Fiscal Year 2010 budget and is waiting for the state to release capital funds to begin reconstruction.

The deteriorating steam tunnel is an emergency situation, NIU President John Peters said. By the Board of Trustees approving the funding in the budget to reconstruct the tunnel, the university can get all engineering contracts together in advance so work can start as soon as the funding is released, he said.

“Life safety concerns and the potential disruption of steam distribution during winter months have compelled the university to move this project up to top priority,” according to the BOT handbook for June 25.

NIU has been trying to get funding for the repairs since 2004, according to the handbook. Around 150 feet of the tunnel and the pipes need to be fixed, according to the handbook.

The reconstruction project will cost about $1.75 million, Peters said.

The BOT approved and amended several recommendations for the fiscal year 2010, including approval of the E90 fuel contract for $2.041 per gallon including taxes.

The new price is about $1.20 cheaper per gallon, Transportation Department Manager Bill Finucane said at the June 25 BOT Finance, Facilities and Operations committee meeting. The 2009 cost was $3.22 per gallon, and the 2008 cost was $2.72 a gallon, according to the BOT minutes from June 2008.

Also, the contract for the Medical Reagents was amended to $400,000 over three years from $700,000 over five years.

Additionally, the BOT approved renaming two buildings on campus.

The new chiller plant will be called the East Campus Chilled Water Plant, according to the handbook. The Wesley Building will now be called the Academic Advising Center and the Speech and Hearing Clinic will now be called University Police and Public Safety Building.

The new name and name changes are to represent the current functions of the buildings, according to the handbook.