Portion of Scott Boulevard scheduled to reopen next week
Columbia Public School students are heading back to the classroom Tuesday, but for some in Southwest Columbia there could be delays getting there.
A portion of Scott Boulvard is still expected to be closed until next week, causing possible delays in getting to Beulah Ralph Elementary School.
ABC 17 News spoke with officials at Columbia Public Schools about the issue, but they told us it’s nothing they can’t handle. CPS spokeswoman, Michelle Baumstark says the district has adjusted its bus routes accordingly and doesn’t see it impacting very many students and residents.
The city has been advising residents to take alternate routes, Old Mill Creek Road to Route KK, to have access to that portion of town.
You might recall back in April of 2015, ABC 17 News covered a fatal crash in which a Columbia man died when he missed a curve along Old Mill Creek Road.
Barry Dalton, with Columbia Public Works, says the department is aware of some of the safety concerns- and high traffic on both Old Mill Creek Road- and Route KK.
“We have signs out there warning people, and we just ask that people plan their trips a little ahead of schedule than they might normally, and to drive slowly and watch for traffic that might come to a sudden stop,” he said.
Dalton says all Columbia Public Schools plan on having traffic engineers out to monitor the flow of traffic- and will be on the lookout for any potential problems.
ABC 17 News has done numerous reports about residents expressing their concerns about Route KK and Old Mill Creek Road, and how narrow the road can get at times.
When asked about the potential for two school buses passing each other on the road, Dalton said the road is wide enough, “It’s normal width, and that should be able to pass safely,” he said. “We haven’t gotten any reports that it’s been an issue.”
According to the city, the Columbia Police Department is aware school is starting Tuesday but no extra patrols are scheduled.
Phase three of the Scott Blvd project is set to close next week, and isn’t expected to be completed till November or December.
