School board approves construction bid for Prospect Point school bus lane

School board approves construction bid for Prospect Point school bus lane
Walla Walla Public Schools Board of Directors, during a special school board meeting March 26, approved the $157,618 bid from A. Key Excavating, Inc. to construct a school bus lane on Howard Street to improve safety at Prospect Point Elementary School.

This project, expected to begin in early April and be completed by June 2010, is designed to separate the school bus pick up and drop-off area from the parent drop-off and pick-up area to enhance safety and ease traffic congestion. The project will include curbs, gutters, sidewalk, asphalt driveway, landscape, light poles, and fencing.

"With increased traffic congestion due to new housing developments around the school zone, the issue of safety for students traveling to and from school has been an ongoing concern," said Chris Gardea, principal of Prospect Point. "The new bus loading area will allow students to utilize safe walking paths to and from the buses and the school grounds, with the interior parking lot utilized primarily for parent pick-up and drop-off. This project will address several safety concerns...separating parent and bus traffic, improved lighting on Howard Street, and drinking fountains on the front and back playgrounds."

A. Key Excavating, Inc. is located in Milton-Freewater, but has worked in this area for many years, including the Green Park renovation project, according to Facilities Support Director Dan Johnson.

"Allen Key will be using many local sub contractors including Walla Walla Electric and Diamond Cut Landscape," Johnson said.