School Officials Consider Traffic At New Elementary School
The Harrodsburg Herald/Robert Moore
File image. Traffic around Mercer County Schools.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
[email protected]
Mercer County Board of Education approved several change orders for the new elementary school, including one that will add two days to the project schedule and, officials hope, will increase traffic flow when the school opens.
At their regular meeting on Thursday, April 16, the school board approved a change order submitted by the Bardstown Asphalt Company that would add $10,158.45 to the project’s cost and will likely add two days to the project schedule.
“We’ve met numerous times on traffic flow,” Superintendent Jason Booher said.
Booher said they didn’t want cars stacked up during mornings and afternoons, when families were dropping off and picking up students.
“We think we’ve got it how we like and it will work,” Booher said. He said they have the flexibility to change it if necessary.
One priority has been giving the families of preschool students the time to hand off their children, he said.
David Milam, the vice president for Central Kentucky with Trace Creek Construction, said the modifications will not impact the overall project. Milam said the school will open August.
The board also approved a change order adding eight storage cabinets with adjustable shelves and locks to the music room that would add $9,465 to the contract sum from $113,000 to $122,465. They also approved two other change orders, one transferring available funds from one contractor to another to perform remediation on stone caps in the front entry and another reducing the contract sum $3,597, from $8,179,711.47 to $8,176,114.47. Milam told the board that the original contract was for six inch trees, and only three inch trees are available. The change order reflected the cost difference.
“It should make everybody smile,” Milam said.
Milam gave the board also heard a progress report on the new elementary school. He did present them with video or pictures. As contractors work to finish the project, Milam said some of the rooms looked like bombs had gone off. He told the board the terrazzo flooring was completed while the insulation work was wrapping up. Milam said workers were installing aluminum doors and classrooms were done except for the drop ceilings. Sidewalks were 95 percent done, he said. Contractors were adding seating to the amphitheater. In the gymnasium, work on wood flooring was finished while work on the bleachers continued. Milam said contractors will start work on the curb and gutters Monday. Contractors are wrapping up work on digital equipment, he said.
“It’s coming together,” Milam said. He said workers will be down to the last few things by the next board meeting in May.
He reassured the board that the new school would open on time.
“I cannot guarantee the grass will be growing,” Milam said. “There will be some grass that’s green.”
