In addition to the traffic tie ups on the western portion of Royalton Road, the center part of town, near Ridge and Royalton Roads will also be compromised, due to the construction update of the North Royalton High School. The good news is that in the end, the city will see a widened Royalton Road and updated North Royalton School District buildings.
Starting tomorrow, March 22, residents will see the North Royalton High School/Middle School parking lot transformed into a construction site. Because that space will be utilized for construction, cars that normally park there will be diverted to other areas of the city and the traffic patterns for pickup and drop-off will be changed, effective April 1, when students return from spring break. Motorists should expect traffic congestion and backups in the area of the schools, as well as in other parts of the city, such as near Memorial Park on State Road and the city green area, near Bennett and Ridge Roads. These are two areas where students will be parking during school hours while the construction takes place.
“We ask that all of our parents who drive their children to school, either at the High School or Middle School, utilize the school buses for their students to help reduce the congestion around Ridge Road and Royalton Road,” said North Royalton School Superintendent, Greg
“The District’s redesigned strategic plan, which is in the first year of implementation, is going very well,” said Gurka. “To date, we are on track in all of our goal areas and well ahead in several areas. Our goals of student achievement, collaboration and communication, professional development, and finances are in place to assure that we remain focused on the areas that are critical for the success of our District and our community. At the end of the school year, we will update the Board of Education and the community on the accomplishments from 2018-19 and what is ahead for the next school year.”
In the mean time, the students traffic will remain an issue through the end of the school year in June. For parents picking up a child during the school day, they are to enter off of Ridge Road and park in the visitor’s parking, which is located near the new High School main entry on the north side of the Performing Arts Center. They must be picked up by 1:45 p.m. Those picking up students after school will not be permitted to enter the campus until 2:35 p.m. Students cannot enter the High School until 6:45 a.m. and no one is permitted to enter the campus through the Board of Education/Stadium driveway on Royalton Road. For parents, bus route and pick-up/drop-off times and information is published on the district’s website at www.northroyaltonsd.org/Transportation.aspx.
Gurka noted that “if I can answer any questions or be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me at greg.gurka@ northroyaltonsd.org.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer