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Highlands Today

Traffic Light May Be Operating By Start Of School

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: July 27, 2008

SEBRING - On the morning of Aug. 18, the busy intersection of Memorial Drive and Valerie Boulevard will become more crowded than ever as about 560 students travel to the new Memorial Elementary School about a half mile away.

Highlands County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete has some good news and some not-so-good news about the upgrade in traffic control and the roadways at that intersection.

The good news is that the new four-way traffic light, which will upgrade the intersection from a four-way stop, has a good chance of being in operation by the first day of classes.

Gavarrete, though, reports that the addition of left- and right-turn lanes on the approaches to this busy intersection won't be finished for four to six months, probably in mid-winter.

"We're still hoping to get the traffic signal working before school starts," Gavarrete said Friday.

"That's what we're hoping," he added. "We can't guarantee it, but that's what we're hoping for. And we should know by the end of this coming week."

County crews have already installed the foundations for the mast arms that will hold up the traffic signals. County workers also have the traffic signals and all necessary parts for installation.

The only thing that's needed to get the traffic light up and running is delivery of the mast arms, Gavarrete said.

"Once we receive the mast arms, our guys can put them up and have the signals in operation in about five days," he said.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office will be asked to provide additional safety measures at this intersection when the new school opens.

"I'll be talking with Sheriff (Susan) Benton and asking for extra assistance at that intersection," Gavarrete said. "And I'm sure the sheriff's office will be helping us if that is what is needed there."

Traffic should be at a peak for the first one or two weeks of school, according to Mike Averyt, assistant superintendent for the school system's business operations.

Some parents whose children will be bused to an elementary school drive their children to and from school at the start of the school year, and then start putting them on the buses, he said.

Averyt noted that a traffic survey indicated the need to upgrade the intersection of Memorial Drive and Valerie Boulevard to a four-way traffic signal even before the new school was planned.

Late last year, this intersection was changed from a two-way to a four-way stop.

"We solved the crash problems we used to have there by putting in the four-way stop," Gavarrete said.

The traffic light is needed, he said, because "it is very busy, especially in the morning peak or 'rush' hours," he said. Traffic there during the 4-6 p.m. evening rush hour is not as bad as the mornings, Gavarrete said.

"It's more concentrated in the mornings," he said. And, definitely, when the school opens it will be more concentrated."

The addition of left- and right-turn lanes has to be bid, and that process will probably take between four to six months, Gavarrete said.

About the planned turn-only lanes, he said, "We're building for the future, not just for the new school. We're constructing turning lanes that will not only accommodate the school but also future traffic on Memorial."

Population has been expanding in the area around the Memorial/Valerie intersection, Gavarrete said, and the county has recently approved two rezonings in that area for housing projects.

To reach Jim Konkoly, call 863-386-5855 or e-mail jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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