School Traffic Safety

LAWRENCEVILLE, ILL. (WTHI) -      A Wabash Valley community begins getting ready to make travel to a new school safer.

     The Lawrence Unit 20 school district is building a new $23-million high school on the town's west side.

     The city is now working on a plan to make the trip there safer.

     Construction on the new Lawrenceville High School is moving forward.

     The 125,000 square foot building is expected to be ready for students this fall.

     Lawrenceville officials say the building will mean a big jump in traffic in the area.

     "Dramatically, very much so, in the morning time and after school time, the traffic's going to be critical, so we're going to need to do some road changes and add some sidewalks for sure," said Lawrenceville Mayor Brian Straub.

     One project already in the planning stage is the extension of sidewalks along Porter Avenue.
 
     The area runs several blocks with no place for kids to walk, except the road and people's yards.

     Preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at $100,000 and officials say it's worth it.

     "Absolutely, it's all about safety," said Straub.

     The sidewalk project is one of several the city is talking about in the rapidly growing area, and with traffic safety for school kids being the top concern this is becoming a joint effort.

     "we're working with the school corporation to put together their traffic plan and will apply to the safe routes to school grant program," said Straub.

     The plan is to make the trip to the new facility as safe as possible when the school bell rings to begin classes in the fall.
 
     The city is also in the discussion stage of changing some streets in the area to one way and making others dead ends.