DOVER - Wesley College stu­dents should expect to feel a bit saf­er when they return next month for the 2012-13 school year.

The Dover private college is un­dergoing a $2.7 million streetscape improvement project, which closes sections of North Bradford, Fulton and Cecil streets and several alleys in the immediate area and replaces them with sidewalks and pavers in an effort to create a more pedestrian friendly, campus-like atmosphere.

It will also provide more useful and recreational space for students including benches, Wi-Fi connec­tion, and an 80- square-foot area in between the college center and Ce­cil Street that students can use for events.

"I am looking forward to students having the ability to use the green space to gather socially and the add­ed bonus of Wi-Fi access," college president Dr. William Johnston said.

The project also includes storm sewer and other infrastructure im­provements including burying pow­er, cable and telephone lines. It was because of the latter that the school and Becker Morgan, the project en­gineer, were able to secure half of the project funding ($1.58 million) through the state's New Jobs In­frastructure Fund, the purpose for which is to make investments of new state revenues towards creating jobs and expanding economic opportu­nity.

"Having planned the streetscape project for so long and now watching the daily progress we realize the re­ality has exceeded our expectation," Dr. Johnston said.

Jonathan N.H. Street, civil design­er and project manager for Becker Morgan Group Inc., said construc­tion is on schedule and should be completed by the first day of school, though landscaping work may take additional time.