COVID-19 Causes Construction Hiatus
The Bryant-Denny construction site was quite over the weekend as work was suspended due to some employees testing positive for COVID-19 coronavirus. The project has been allowed to continue throughout the pandemic as Kay Ivey declared construction as essential. Caddell Construction Company did not disclose how many employees tested positive for the coronavirus but the company did confirm the project was back underway.
Caddell, in a statement to the Tuscaloosa News, that operations were restricted over the weekend after receiving notice of positive tests for "some employees and trade partners." Caddell stated that deep-cleaning and laboratory testing ensured team members could return to the construction site on Monday.
The University of Alabama, also speaking with the Tuscaloosa News, said it has provided cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment to all contractors.
Byrant-Denny Stadium has been under construction since the conclusion of the 2019 season and, according to Athletic Director Greg Bryne, the project is still on schedule to finish before the start of next season's scheduled football season. Alabama is scheduled to play its first home game on September 12.
Bryne offered an update on his social media two weeks ago.
The stadium will have larger concourses for fans to walk past one another, all four video screens will be upgraded, new elevators will be installed, the locker room and recruiting room will be upgraded and several seats have been modified into the Champion's Club seating.
The project is budgeted for $92.5 million and is the first phase in Byrne's Crimson Standard upgrade. The Crimson Standard was a plan Byrne laid out to upgrade Bryant-Denny Stadium and renovate Coleman Coliseum.