Texas A&M Bonfire Memorial Reopens Following Improvements To Gravel Walkways

The bonfire memorial at Texas A&M has reopened after a two and a half month closure.

Walkways have new gravel and a coating that complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The 20th anniversary of the bonfire collapse is the 18th.

University officials say there will be events to remember the 12 lives that were lost. Details have not been announced.

Original story:

Texas A&M announces the Bonfire Memorial will be closed for repairs starting next Thursday (August 22) and continue until October 31.

A&M’s news release states that renovations are necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Specifically, loose gravel on memorial walkways that pose accessibility concerns will be replaced with a new surface that has been used elsewhere on campus.

A&M says the solution has the blessing of one of the original designers of the memorial.

And during construction, the granite and bronze portals and the granite history walk will be covered.

In addition to closing the memorial, the adjacent parking lot will also be closed.

News release from Texas A&M:

he Texas A&M University Bonfire Memorial walkways will undergo renovation Aug. 22 – Oct. 31 in order to be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. During this time, the Bonfire Memorial and the adjacent Bonfire Memorial parking lot will be closed.

Loose gravel on the Bonfire Memorial walkways are difficult to maintain and pose accessibility concerns to visitors of the site. After consultation with Robert Shemwell of Overland Partners, Inc. in San Antonio, one of the original designers of the memorial, Texas A&M University settled on a solution that will maintain the original design.

Maintenance will consist of current gravel removal, regrading of walkways and new gravel installation, along with a topical application of Klingstone, a water permeable product that binds materials together. Similar applications of this product have been used elsewhere on campus.

During construction, the granite and bronze portals and the granite history walk will be covered for protection and preservation purposes.

The newly graded walkways at the Bonfire Memorial will ensure that people of all abilities are able to visit the site, a memorial to the 12 lives lost at the bonfire collapse in 1999.

Photo of the walkway approaching the Texas A&M Bonfire Memorial, August 15 2019.

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