Students who live on Hayward Avenue will have a tough time getting to their homes for the next 12 weeks.

The first phase of construction started March 25 and is expected to last for four to six weeks. During this time, vehicles will not be allowed access to that section of Hayward Avenue.

The first phase will take place between Hunt Street and Chamberlain Street and the second phase will take place from Chamberlain Street to Lincoln Way.

During the second phase of construction, sidewalks will remain open, so businesses can still be reached. The sidewalks are currently still available during the first phase of construction.

Once the construction is finished for phase two, one sidewalk at a time will be reconstructed to finish the entire street.

Construction is being done to update the water main located below the street as well as improve storm drainage.

Access to the businesses during the second phase of construction when the sidewalk is being repaired will come from the east side of the street and the parking lot will remain open throughout construction as well.

The second phase of the project will take longer than the first phase because of a box culvert beneath the street. A box culvert is an underground drainage structure that is like a giant tube, said Construct Incorporated project manager Doug Waite.

The tube is about 8 feet tall and drains water from the residents of Hayward Avenue to Lake Laverne.

With “cooperation with Mother Nature,” the project should be completed over the summer before students return to Ames, Waite said.

So far, Construct Inc. has not faced resistance from students or residents since construction has began.