WARRICK CO., IN (WFIE) -
Construction on State Road 261 in Newburgh will still be in progress when school starts in a few weeks.
Road and school officials are working on ways to keep things moving as smoothly as possible.
The Castle parking lot has one entrance currently closed, but Principal Andy Byers says it will be open when school starts. He and INDOT say this is just one area they are working on in order to alleviate traffic congestion when the students come back on August 15th.
Cher Elliot of INDOT says construction on State Road 261 is progressing as scheduled, but won't be finished until April 2014. Unfortunately for Castle High School students and faculty, school starts in a little over two weeks.
"Some of the concerns have been, 'how are we going to get our kids in and out? How are we going to get our buses in and out of the building area, parking areas?'" said Byers.
Byers says he has stayed in close communication with Ragle Construction, and they have assured him that all access points to the school will be open by August 15th.
"This front entrance will be open by the time school starts. In addition, our entrance down here off of Vann Road will be helpful because that intersection will be complete as well," Byers said.
Byers says a new entrance on the school's north side will be open.
Elliot says INDOT will open the Oak Grove Road intersection to allow better flow of traffic. She also says a lane transfer should happen next week.
"Crews continue to finalize the new pavement on the east side of the existing lanes, and we anticipate being able to move traffic over to those new lanes late next week," said Elliot.
Principal Byers says some Castle parents have raised concerns over traffic safety, but he says if students plan ahead and keep their eyes on the road, everything should be fine.
"We just advise kids, you know, you may not be able to leave at the same time you normally do. You may be home a little bit later, if you're driving to school. So please give adequate time to get here," Byers said.
Principal Byers also says local police will routinely direct traffic during school hours. He says the school's director of transportation is brainstorming more ways to make school traffic move more fluidly.
We will let you know if any more traffic changes take place.
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Road and school officials are working on ways to keep things moving as smoothly as possible.
