Cerritos College began construction on the north side of campus for a new student drop-off and pick-up zone in front of the Administration Building on Monday.

It is a one-way drop-off stemming from the entrance of lot C-4. Two lanes are being constructed, one for drop-off and one to drive through, heading eastbound into lot C-3.

“I think that it’s a good thing because it will help clear up traffic. That is an issue right now,” said Jennifer Rodriguez, nursing major.

Robert Riffle, Director of Physical Plant, is overseeing the project.

“For a long time, we’ve had a need for a safer [pick-up & drop-off] point for students coming on and off of campus,” Riffle said.

Difficulties have arisen from two separate drop-off points; the C-3 lot in front of the Burnight Center and the C-4 lot in front of the Social Science Building.

“To alleviate some of the problem there, if not all of it, we’ve decided to put a intermediary drop-off in front of the [Administration] Building,” Riffle said.

The new lanes will guide drivers from the C-4 entryway towards the C-3 lot, linking them together and providing the driver with more options when leaving campus and reducing traffic congestion.

“I think it’d be better and more efficient for this school to have more places for people to drop [students] off.” said Jessica Vidrio, nursing major.

Daniel Chacon, business administration major, wasn’t as excited as others about the new project, saying, “Instead of building a drop-off zone they should build a parking lot… A drop-off zone takes like 30 seconds and it takes about 20 minutes.”

Although the project is slated to continue until December, Riffle is confident that it will be done sooner.

“At this point, the schedule is less than 45 days,” said Riffle. “But it will be ready for the beginning of the spring semester.

“We’re hoping that people will navigate towards [the new drop-off] and use it solely for their picking up and dropping off, so there can be a more safe environment in the other parking lots, so those can be used for staff or student parking.”

The construction project itself is just one step in the Facility Master Plan, a long-term project to renovate the campus.

The total cost for the project is $297,000. Funding is coming from the General Obligation Bond, which is a municipal bond that allows the state fund Cerritos College so it can improve the campus.