Local schools are out next week for spring break and for USD 323 it’s likely a welcome relief as the Kansas Department of Transportation begins work on a major bridge replacement on Hwy 24 near St. George.
KDOT plans to begin the bridge replacement east of the Blackjack Road interchange Tuesday, which will cut off access to the highway from the south and access from the highway to Blackjack Road. USD 323 Superintendent Kevin Logan says the district is already looking at ways to mitigate congestion around St. George Elementary. Logan acknowledges traffic will be a mess.
“We’re going to begin opening our doors at St. George 15 minutes earlier, encouraging people when they leave the St. George campus onto Blackjack that then they will turn right instead of making left turns, to speed through that process between our busy time in the morning and busy time in the afternoon,” he said.
Logan says doing so will add miles for those living in town but should increase overall safety.
“We’re also adding another crossing guard down there at our Blackjack crosswalk. We currently have one at Military Trail. Then we’ll have law enforcement presence to keep an eye on things and if things get too bottle necked, they will get out and direct traffic,” he said.
Bridge replacement on eastbound U.S. 24 in Pottawatomie County to begin March 16
From KDOT press release, Pottawatomie…Posted by Pottawatomie County, Kansas on Wednesday, March 10, 2021
KDOT will complete the entire project in three phases with median crossovers to be built in phase one, and removed in phase three. A reconstruction of the bridge during phase two and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The entire $1.9 million project should be wrapped up in early 2022, depending on weather.
