New start and end times for Muscogee schools affected by Columbus intersection closure
The reconstruction of a major Columbus intersection, which will be closed for approximately two years, also will mean temporary new start and end times for the daily schedule at four nearby schools.
The Columbus Consolidated Government announced last week that the construction project area around the intersection known as the “Spiderweb” in south Columbus will close April 7 to build a bridge over the railroad tracks.
The Spiderweb is the busy half-mile section of Buena Vista Road near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where the Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing caused significant traffic jams. This $45.8 million project is designed to solve that problem.
Meanwhile, the solution temporarily will change the times when nearby schools will open and close each day to accommodate the delayed commutes resulting from the Spiderweb closures.
The Muscogee County School District announced in a news release Tuesday night “a proactive plan aimed at minimizing disruptions and ensuring the continued safe and timely transport of students to and from school.”
New bus passes, adjusted school schedules
As part of this transition, updated bus passes will be distributed to students ahead of next week’s spring break, MCSD said. These new passes and any associated route changes will go into effect April 7.
Due to anticipated traffic flow changes, the following schools will operate on an adjusted schedule, effective April 7:
- Carver High School
- Columbus High School
- Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts
- Spencer High School
The adjusted schedule for these schools will be:
- Doors open: regular time
- Start time: 9:15 a.m.
- End time: 4:05 p.m., except Rainey-McCullers will end at 4:30 p.m. to meet state minimum instructional requirements for block scheduling.
- Bus riders: Students who ride the bus will be supervised on campus until their buses arrive.
“We appreciate the continued patience and support of our families and staff as we work to navigate the changes resulting from the city’s construction project,” MCSD’s news release says. “Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our students, and we are committed to keeping our community informed throughout this process.”
This closure allows officials to cut the time to complete the project from three years down to two, Columbus Consolidated Government director of engineering Vance Beck told the Ledger-Enquirer last week. There also is a savings of $5 million in the $45.8 million project by closing the intersection, he said.
Funding sources for the project include the 2012 Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant and the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Constructing the bridge is the last phase of this project, Beck said.
On March 5, CCG officials met with MCSD, the Columbus Fire & EMS Department, the Columbus Police Department and other stakeholders to provide information about the detours so these groups could be prepared, Beck said. Businesses in the area should not be affected, he said.
Detour routes will run along Morris Road, Brennan Road, Brown Avenue, Illges Road, Rigdon Road, Forrest Road, Cusseta Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. There will be signage posted to make it easy for drivers, Beck said.
If residents have questions about the detour, they may contact Beck through his email at beck.ronald@columbusga.org or call him at 706-225-4441.
Ledger-Enquirer reporter Brittany McGee contributed to this story.
