Traffic back-ups near Columbia Public Schools ‘a mess’ for parents

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia Public Schools' first day of in-person elementary classes came with traffic headaches for parents Monday afternoon.

CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said Monday morning that nearly 6,000 elementary students returned to school in-person and another 2,000 elementary students continue to learn all-online. The district said there are fewer kids on buses than in previous years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to more cars dropping off and picking kids up before and after school.

Meanwhile, new roundabouts and road construction around Mill Creek Elementary in south Columbia are exacerbating the issue there.

Scott Halterman, the parent of a Mill Creek student, said for him the roundabouts were the main issue when picking up his kid from school.

"It's really not the school's problem, its the roundabout they put right in front of Mill Creek Elementary," he said. "Yesterday was totally gridlock for about a half-hour. "

Halterman said usually it would only take him 15 minutes to pick up his kid, but on the first day back to school it took an hour.

"It was a mess yesterday," he said. "It was horrible."

The district warned Columbia drivers about the likelihood of traffic snarls as classes resumed Monday. CPS did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the issue Tuesday morning.

The City of Columbia Traffic Engineering Supervisor Jacob Ray has asked the community to remain patient as they continue to watch and monitor the situation.

"We will definitely work with the school district to figure our different ways potentially to get the kids to and from school as safely and as efficiently as we can," he said.