Bulk of Highway 25 project's first phase to be finished by start of school

Despite some delays, the bulk of the Highway 25 construction project at South Elementary School in Jackson will be completed by the first day of school Aug. 16.

Andy Meyer, Missouri Department of Transportation project manager, said the first phase of the project, which included paving, lane widening, parking lot improvements and the creation of turn lanes, has met with a variety of unexpected problems.

"Who would have thought you would have a straight week of rain every day in July?" Meyer said. He also said utility relocation took longer than planners anticipated, which also created some delays.

Still, Meyer is confident the majority of the first phase will be complete by the start of school. He said construction crews were told to focus on completing the work north of the school by the first day. He said most parents dropping off and picking up students are coming from Jackson and turning north out of the school lot. Originally all of the work was to be complete by mid-August.

Meyer said there should be a traffic light at the school's entrance by Sept. 15. He said that was never meant to be completed in the first phase and remains on schedule.

Ronnie Neisenheimer, left, and Charlie McGuire, center left, strike off excess concrete Friday as Nick Seyer, center right, and Mark Cissell with Lappe Cement Finishing Inc. spread concrete in the the south turn lane into South Elementary in Jackson. (Laura Simon)

That stoplight will remain on all day, every day, even when school is not in session. Meyer said the new light will operate similarly to the one at the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and Old Orchard Road. There will be detector loops in the pavement at all approaches to the signal.

"It will adjust to the needs that are there. It will not go to flashing outside of school," he said.

'A pain' in the short term

Meyer said there will be some congestion, and probably some confusion, but asks that parents be patient.

"It's going to be a pain for a couple of weeks, but there will be a dramatic improvement when the signal comes online," he said.

Currently MODOT is trying to coordinate meetings with the city of Jackson, school officials and New McKendree United Methodist Church, which is across the road from South Elementary and houses part of the school's preschool program.

"We want to have them soon so the school can notify parents to the changes. Even when all is complete, it will take some getting used to," Meyer said. There will now be two drop-off lanes for parents, as well as a raised crosswalk for students to use when going into the school.

"Hopefully kids will not have to pass in front of cars when they are walking into school now," he said.

Jackson superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said once he meets with MODOT, he will tell parents what will be in place the first day. He said once both phases of the project are complete, the benefits will be worth all of the inconvenience.

"It is a positive thing, nothing but better than what we had," he said.

Until the stoplight is in operation, Anderson said, the Jackson Police Department will provide traffic control during drop-off and pickup times. Between the school and preschool programs, more than 700 children are affected by the construction.

Carol Woods, transportation director for the Jackson School District, said that throughout the day 23 buses regularly go in and out of the school's parking lot. She said it is common for buses to have to wait on Highway 25 to pull into either the South Elementary lot or the New McKendree preschool location, creating a less than ideal safety situation. The improvements will alleviate that problem.

"It is going to bring safety to our children having that stoplight there. Buses waited on 25 to turn into the lots. That is not good or safe. I am very excited for this," she said.

cbartholomew@semissourian.com

243-8600

Pertinent Addresses

1701 S. Hope St., Jackson, MO

614 E. Adams St., Jackson, MO