When the Class of 1997 arrived at Harvard three years ago, it was greeted by construction in the Quincy Square area of Mass. Ave., bordered by Lamont Library, the Inn at Harvard and Baskin Robbins.

By the time the class graduates in June, the construction may finally be finished.

"Everything should be wrapped up early next spring, with most of the work [being] done by the time snow falls," says J. Roger Boothe, Cambridge's director of urban design.

Students say the construction hasn't caused too much disruption in their lives.

Amanda R. Lumry '99 says she can put up with some small hassles now if it means ease and efficiency down the road.

"I have to walk around it sometimes, but I don't mind. I'd rather have a new paved road without puddles or piles of snow in the winter," she says.

What began as a sewer repair project nearly four years ago will end in the beautification of the Square.

"The area in front of Lamont and in front of the Inn at Harvard will include landscaping, [and] an artistic installation will be placed in the triangle in front of the inn," says John R. Pitkin, co-chair of the Quincy Square Design Development Committee.

Before repair work began, the city's 100-year-old sewer system frequently overflowed, sending waste into the Charles River instead of the city's sewage treatment plant, according to Elizabeth Epstein, Cambridge's deputy director of community development.

The construction, which got underway during the 1992-93 academic year, created new systems which keep the sewage and water pipes completely separate, Epstein says.

The sewer system, curbing and sidewalks were repaired by the spring of 1995, according to Phoebe M. Brooke, co-chair of the Quincy Square Design Development Committee.

This fall, the city turned to the aesthetics--and safety--of the neighborhood.

"It's been a very ill-defined but important crossroads,"Brooke says. "Its lack of definition has caused accidents and attracted tour buses, which further confused the pedestrians crossing."

Money for the project came from the Harvard Square Improvement Fund and a donation from the University, Brooke says.

The entire project will cost about $1 million, according to Boothe.

Halvorson Co., a Boston land scape design firm, has designed the Quincy Square area and RAD Construction is the head contractor. Cedrone Construction is completing the work on the streets and sidewalks.

Landscaping will include "two dozen different varieties of perennials meant to give color at different times of the year[and] will contain an elegant garden with big stones interspersed with brass by artist David Phillips," says Boothe.

City officials say the construction has had little impact on the traffic pattern in Quincy Square.

"I think throughout, we've been able to maintain a reasonable traffic flow. And obviously, the closer we'll get to ideal traffic flow," says Epstein.

And Nisha S. Agarwal '00 and her classmates may have discovered some hidden benefits to the ongoing road work.

"Some freshmen, I think, have taken advantage of the newly-paved sidewalks to immortalize themselves forever in the cement," Agarwal says. "Also the removal of street signs makes stealing them for dorm room decoration a very tempting thought!