May 15, 2014 2 min read

CARMICHAELS – The Carmichaels Area School District closed its Route 88 north entrance near the gazebo.

The closure is the result of a state Department of Transportation project to replace the bridge over Muddy Creek near the Carmichaels Area Elementary Center.

The gazebo entrance will remain closed until the bridge is completed sometime in October, according to school district superintendent Craig Baily.

This marks the second closure of an entrance to the Carmichaels Area campus this year. An entrance off Greene Street between the junior and senior high schools was closed in April to allow the start of work on a $25 million renovation project of the junior and senior high schools.

Baily acknowledged traffic issues exist with multiple projects taking place at the same time.

“We want to emphasize that people use caution when entering and exiting the campus. Safety is paramount,” Baily said. “We want everybody safe.”

Baily said he is recommending the use of district-provided transportation for students for the remainder of the school year to cut down on traffic. Parents in the district received a one-call notification of this recommendation and of the closure of the gazebo entrance early Thursday.

The campus currently has two open entrances, the Route 88 north entrance near the electronic sign and the Greene Street entrance that leads to the field house and football stadium.

A single lane runaround controlled by traffic lights at either end will allow for traffic to continue on Route 88 north while the bridge is replaced, Baily said.