DeKALB | Some areas of the concrete sidewalks built during the $25 million renovation of Altgeld Hall are settling, shifting and forming cracks.

NIU has no immediate plans to repair the damage to the sidewalks, which were completed about three years ago, said James Murphy, campus planning coordinator for architectural and engineering services.

Murphy said there are a few cracks on the east side of Altgeld that may cause some concern in the future. He also noted that the College Avenue sidewalk around the Altgeld-Lowden Hall turnaround is settling.

The sidewalks were poured within one or two years of each other, Murphy said, with Altgeld more recently.

The sidewalks are holding up well under the circumstances, Murphy said.

“For the number of years [the sidewalk] has been here, I think we’re doing quite well,” he said.

The two separate sidewalks were poured by separate contractors, and are therefore settling differently.

“We like to think that all contractors do a fine job of preparing the subgrade, but not all concrete contractors are the same,” Murphy said.

Murphy attributed concrete problems with the climate conditions of the Midwest, as well as the quality of ground preparation before the concrete is poured.

“Concrete cracks easier up here because of the freeze-thaw cycle,” Murphy said. In the southern states, a warmer climate affords longer concrete life, he said.

Snow removal efforts necessary to make sidewalks safe for students also add to the freeze-thaw damage done to sidewalks.

“Snow plow equipment is not easy on our walks,” Murphy said. “Salt is not always a friend to our concrete finishes.”

To address the issues of cracked concrete sidewalks, a yearly walk-through of the campus is done every spring in preparation for summer repairs, Murphy said.

There are spots along Annie Glidden Road and Garden Road in need of replacement concrete, he said. For these replacements to be made, the city of DeKalb may work with NIU to address funding and construction.