Heritage to get parking project

A five-year traffic headache will soon come to an end for parents and teachers at Heritage Elementary School.

On March 20, the Shelby County Board of Education unanimously approved a construction plan that would give the school more parking and ensure that parents who are dropping off their children do not have to wait in line on U.S. 60 to get on to the school's campus.

Principal Cindy Adkins was jubilant after the board made the decision.

"I am so thrilled," she said. "It is just so needed"

Adkins said presently the school does not have enough parking for employees, let alone the parents.

She said for the last five years the morning car rider line has been a growing problem.

Currently there are almost 200 car riders in the morning.

The construction plan will add a second entrance to the school on the east side of the campus, a car rider loop that will go around the back of the school and add additional parking.

The car rider loop will direct traffic from the new entrance to the rear of the school and will allow 36 cars to stack on school grounds. Altogether the project will add up to 52 more parking spaces.

However, only motorists traveling eastbound on U.S. 60 will be able to use the new entrance. Westbound motorists will not be able to turn left into the school. Adkins said inability to turn left into the school will affect only about 12 families. She said this summer she will meet with those parents and ask them to use an alternate route.

Altogether the project will add up to 52 more parking spaces.

Adkins said the project engineer listened well to the school's needs and concerns.

"It really is using the space wisely," she said.

She said this summer she will be meeting with these parents and asking them use Maurice Clark Road and then

The project, which was designed by Strand Associates, is estimated to cost $39,000. It is scheduled to be complete before the first day of school in August.