CORRECTION: In a previous version of this article, Shawn Tyrrell’s major was misstated. Tyrrell is a liberal studies major. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

Students looking to use the ‘Cuse Challenge Course will have to wait other few weeks for the ropes course to open, due to construction issues delaying the opening to late September.

Construction of the course started in May, including building a series of ropes courses and a dual zip line, according to a May 10 Syracuse University News press release. Originally, the course was to be completed and opened by Aug. 15.

But builders found an obstacle during construction, encountering layers of rock when installing the majority of poles and anchors for the course, which required more time to drill than they intended, Scott Catucci, associate director of SU outdoor education, said in an email.

“Most, if not all construction projects face external factors when meeting targeted completion dates,” he said. “The construction of the course has received such positive feedback as a result of the numerous opportunities it will provide to the university and surrounding community, we do not consider there to be any setback as a result of the delay in its completion. Rather, it has heightened our enthusiasm as we near its opening.”

Catucci said he does not expect any further delays in the course’s opening, and anticipates that the course will open by the end of September.

The course and outdoor education center are located on South Campus, in an area across from The Inn Complete.

For students still eager to use a ropes challenge course, Catucci said an alternative indoor rope challenge course is still available in Flanagan Gymnasium, which he said received positive feedback.

Shawn Tyrrell, a intramural supervisor at Archbold Gymnasium, has used the indoor rope challenge course said he was upset with the outdoor course’s delayed opening.

“It was very disappointing because I looked forward to using it during our mandatory training,” said Tyrrell, a senior liberal studies major. “I really wanted to give it a spin and see what it’s like.”

The Recreation Services team was supposed to make a run through the challenge course before its opening was delayed, he said.

From photos, the outdoor course appears to be more impressive than the indoor course, Tyrrell said. This is because of the additional space and features, such as the dual zip lines and ceiling-less towers, he said.

Mary Capparuccini, a graduate student majoring in public administration and international relations, also looked forward to using the challenge course’s zip line, but wasn’t disappointed about the project’s delay.

“I didn’t know its exact opening date, so I’m not too upset about it,” she said. “I figured I’d go there once or twice this semester, just for fun with my friends.”

Progress of the course’s construction can be followed on challengecourseblog.syr.edu. On Sept. 5, three photos were posted of construction updates, showing two towers of the course and the outdoor education center being built.

Published on September 9, 2013 at 12:51 am

Contact Alfred: alng@syr.edu

@alfredwkng