Street work around Douglas will affect pick ups, drop offs

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Thursday, August 27, 2009 12:56 PM CDT

Construction signs and barrels are shown in the background as work is being done on Center Street near Douglas Elementary School. The work, which is not expected to be completed until after the school year begins, will affect student pick up and drop off routes. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

The reconstruction of Center Street near Douglas Elementary School is not expected to be completed until the middle of September, which is after the start of the school year, according to city Engineer Joe Radocay.

The sections of Center Street that are currently being reconstructed are from North Avenue to East Arcade Avenue and from East Leonard Street to Boulder Road.

Radocay said the city has to wait for a contractor to do the curb and gutter work before the roadway can be resurfaced with blacktop.

“What we are waiting for is the curb and gutter contractor to come in and replace some spots of curb and gutter, sidewalk approaches, driveway approaches and those kinds of things,” Radocay said. “We would then come in and grade it and blacktop it.”

Douglas Elementary School Principal Jennifer Borst said during the road project parents and guardians are being encouraged to use one of three routes when they drop off or pick up their children from school.

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Motorists traveling on North Fourth Street should turn onto Center Street and drop off or pick up children on that roadway. They should then turn left on North Avenue and exit onto North Second Street.

Parents or guardians driving on North Second Street should travel onto North Avenue and turn right onto Center Street. Children should be picked up or dropped off at Center Street before exiting onto North Fourth Street.

Drivers traveling on East Spaulding Street should turn onto Prospect Street and use that road to drop off or pick up students. Motorists should then proceed to Lounsbury Street and exit onto North Second Street.

Because of construction at the school, the area where buses will pick up and drop off children has been moved. That area will now be on the school side of Prospect Street.

“In the past we've been doing it in the parking lot, but it's just a safer spot to be doing it on the school side of Prospect Street with the construction on our campus,” Borst said. “We have all that labeled for everyone and the places where the kids are to line up in the morning.”

Borst said parents or guardians should not drop off children in the area where they will have to cross the construction entrance on Prospect Street. She added that area is reserved for large equipment and machinery.

Children should also not be dropped off or picked up on North Avenue because there are not sidewalks on that road, Borst added.

Parents and guardians will not be allowed to use the school parking lot off of Prospect Street to pick up or drop off students unless that child is handicapped, Borst said.

Borst is also asking that students do not ride bicycles, scooters or skateboards to school during construction.

Throughout the duration of the road project, school personnel and police officers will be outside of Douglas during drop-off and pickup times to make sure the children are as safe as possible, she added.

“This is a very exciting time at Douglas but will take cooperation and flexibility from all of our families to ensure a smooth school year,” Borst said.

“I think we have a good plan and we'll have to rely on the patience of parents,” she added. “It will take a little bit longer than it did before, but it will be worth it.”