The construction fences on the west side of the Cyclorama building come out to Hancock Avenue in an area north of the Bryan House. Visitors walking south in this area are forced from the sidewalk to the left onto Hancock Avenue. They must then walk around the Bryan House on Hancock Avenue. This is a potential safety problem as we get into the busy spring and summer months. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Construction fences now hem in the old Cyclorama Center on the west, south, and east sides. We showed you the south and east sides in our post for February 27, 2009. Today we will show you the fences on the west side. The positioning of some of the fences we feel is a potential safety hazard for visitors.
We start our tour at the fence across the sidewalk leading from the Cyclorama parking lot. We will walk away from the camera towards the west. This view was taken facing west at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
The fencing has still not been set up on the north side of the Cyclorama. This view was taken facing south at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
We’re walking down the sidewalk by the monument to the 108th New York Infantry Regiment… This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
…behind the monument to Alfred Woolson. This view was taken facing south at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Here the fence goes towards the east (away from the camera) only to the first tree. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
As we keep heading south along the sidewalk, there’s a challenge ahead. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
We are able to get past Bigelow’s 9th Massachusetts Battery, but then the fence won’t allow us to go down the sidewalk any farther. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
So now we have to walk out on Hancock Avenue. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
The fence does end just before the Bryan House. And if one chose to, they could get off Hancock Avenue by crossing the ditch again, and walking left (east of) the Bryan House. But how many people realize that it is important for their own safety that they do this? This view was taken facing south at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
The problem here is traffic moving north (towards the camera) on Hancock Avenue. You can’t see the cars coming towards you because the Bryan House blocks your view. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
And vehicles moving north can’t see you until they are very close to the Bryan House and you have walked out around it. This view was taken facing north at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
So why does the fence come out so far towards Hancock Avenue at this spot? This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Probably so that the vehicles hauling away parts of the Cyclorama building can use this paved area intersecting with Hancock Avenue. So it should be interesting having vehicles exit from here with the Bryan House hiding them from northbound moving traffic on busy days. We assume they will have a flagman. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
But does the fence have to come out this far? Why can’t it stay left (east of) the sidewalk and have a place to exit where the east/west sidewalk meets the north/south sidewalk? Trucks will still use the paved area going to Hancock, and we’re confident that pedestrians will stop on the sidewalk to let the vehicles out just as they will have to stop on Hancock to let the vehicles out. This way pedestrians can stay left of (east of) the Bryan House. This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Because here’s what’s going to happen and is happening. Conveniently for us, this couple was pushing their baby carriage south down the sidewalk towards the Brian House. They have to leave the sidewalk and take the carriage down the slope, and across the ditch onto Hancock Avenue. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
And now they’re walking in the road instead of on the sidewalk. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
They decided not to push the carriage back over the ditch on the right and push the carriage up the slope to get it to the east side of the Bryan House. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
Thankfully traffic wasn’t very busy on a Saturday morning in the winter, and they were able to make it safely around the Bryan House on the west side. But what happens as the season gets busier? This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
We’ll continue to follow the fence along the west side of the Cyclorama building. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
We’ll head along the fence towards the old front (west) entrance. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
As we get closer to the building… This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
…the fence begins to turn to the south, and does not come close to the west entrance. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
We’re now heading south on Cemetery Ridge. The orchard is to our right (west). This view was taken facing south at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
We’re standing in the orchard to get a view of the west side of the structure. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
And here the fence begins heading towards the east… This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
…and stays very close to the building as we showed you in our previous post about the construction fences. This view was taken facing east at approximately 9:30 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
See the following related posts:
Construction Fences Arrive at Old Visitor Centers on February 26, 2009.
Old Visitor Center Lawn in Limbo on May 28, 2008.
Lights Out at the Electric Map on April 13, 2008.
Moving Day at the Gettysburg Visitor Center on April 12, 2008.
An Emptiness at the Visitor Center on March 31, 2008.
Gettysburg Guide Room: The Final Days on March 8, 2008.
A Sunday Afternoon Walk Around the Old Gettysburg Visitor Center on February 24, 2008.