Construction At Vernon School Designed To Thwart Congestion

VERNON, CT — A project designed to alleviate congestion at drop-off and dismissal times is under way at Center Road School in Vernon.

Work began about a week-and-a-half ago and is expected to be finished before school starts on Aug. 28, Vernon Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary said. The $300,000 project is utilizing funds from the school board's capital non-recurring account.

With 524 students, Center Road is the largest of Vernon's five elementary schools. Traffic at both drop-off and dismissal times tends to get snarled by a lack of parking and cars and buses using the same entrance and exit patterns.

Parents often double-park when spaces fill up and gridlock is not uncommon.

Macary said the summer construction reflects a two-pronged approach toward making traffic flow more smoothly — a new driveway and parking area.

The driveway is being cut at the far north side of the campus off Center Road. As of now, he said, Buses will enter the campus there, head around the side of the building and drop off at a yet-to-be determined rear door near the gym and cafteria.

As of now, Parents will likely use the main circle as a drop-off area, he said.

Things could change once construction is done and patterns are analyzed, Macary said.

A similar plan worked at Skinner Road School, he said.

A new parking lot is being constructed at the rear of the campus, adjacent to the police station and the current CRS playground. Macary and Vernon Police Department spokesman Lt. William Meier said the lot will be shared by the school and the police to alleviate congestion during functions.

The exact number of spaces will be determined after paving, Macary said.

A small ballfield with poor drainage had been there. When asked if the project left enough field space, Macary said yes without hesitation.