Students may be gone for summer, but work has continued at Western Kentucky University. Crews are working on a $9 million project which includes an overhaul of the Downing University Center.

The project is still a year away from completion but crews are working to finish smaller projects like sidewalks and landscaping.

"It looks very disruptive and it would be during the school year, but when the students come back the following week all those areas will be finished," says Bryan Russell, Director of Construction, Planning, and Design for WKU.

With work continuing at the Downing Center a new dining facility, The Topper Cafe, has taken its place.

"We are going to be opening up this new venue, it is a temporary dining facility, it's called Topper Cafe. We are excited about it and it will be opening this weekend," says Russell.

This is the third summer of construction at Western. While the focus is on larger projects crews are also working to improve students commutes ahead of this weekends new first time students arrival.

"This is one of the things we do over the last three summers we have really put a focus on replacing preferred maintenance items, especially for pedestrians, bikers just the pathways and walkways around campus," says Russell.

Elyssa Carmoney is on campus to help with new students arrivals. She says the construction may look like a mess, but everyone is looking forward to changes.

"I think everybody is going to be really excited. At first we were kinda annoyed because it was going to be a pain in the butt, but I think everybody is just really excited to see everything that comes out of it and all the new stuff that comes out," says Carmoney.

University officials say students will notice construction but it should not disrupt their daily routines.

Crews have also been working on replacing an underground high voltage line, that has been ten years in the making.

That should also be complete by the time students arrive.