Ohio State’s Drackett Tower residents might be hearing more noise than usual while the Sprint Nextel Corporation installs a new cell phone tower on the roof.

Construction slated to begin at 9 a.m. Monday has yet to commence because of rainy weather. Once started, the construction is expected to continue until July 31.

The tower will be ready for Sprint Nextel users returning in the fall, said Jordan D’Souza, an office assistant at Drackett Tower.

Workers will build a structure to house the antennas and other equipment that transmits signals.

Sprint Nextel signed a lease agreement with OSU for $2,500 a month that allows it to build and maintain the tower, said Scott Conlon, a director of projects at Facilities Design and Construction for OSU’s Facilities Operation and Development.

Part of the agreement requires Sprint Nextel to repair and update the tower with its own money, said Bruce Ennen, a real estate coordinator for OSU’s Facilities Operations and Development.

The tower, which has been planned for a few years, will boost the cell phone signal for Sprint Nextel users in the north campus area, including Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center, said John Adams, a spokesman for Sprint Nextel.

Drackett’s tower will be the third cell tower on campus and was selected because of the building’s height.

Other cell towers are on top of Jones and Steeb towers.

But after the Drackett cell phone tower is built, OSU will delay the building of additional towers until the university can review its policy, he said.

Service has not always been great for Sprint Nextel users.

“I used to lose calls a lot,” said Corey McCartney, a fourth-year in engineering.

McCartney has used the same Sprint phone for four years. When he came to OSU, he had trouble with service.

But it has gotten better, he said.

Drackett residents do not have to worry about the construction affecting their sleep, said Cullen Jackson, residence hall director for Drackett Tower, in an e-mail.

No significant work or anything loud will be done before 9 a.m. on weekdays.

Members of the construction team are expected to display identification badges at all times and are only to be in the residence hall when working.

Any loud work before 9 a.m. should be reported to the front desk or to Jackson himself, Jackson said in his e-mail.

To avoid interference with finals week, no construction is scheduled between May 31 and June 14.