Preparation of bid documents slated to begin for LFK traffic improvements

By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com

FRONT ROYAL -- Warren County school officials are one step closer to making traffic improvements at Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School a reality.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Louis Justis presented the school board with the final proposed improvements, as well as cost estimates.

Four suggested improvements came from three separate meetings among staff, board members, parents and teachers.

"I can say with some assurity that everyone had a chance to express their opinion," Justis said.

Curbing and guttering will be added to the bus loop at the school, and inside the bus loop there will be four handicapped parking spaces, all of which is estimated to cost $39,790.

Two improvements have been proposed that follow ideas by Mike Riley, the school system's director of maintenance. "Riley's Plan B" will add parking, lighting and landscaping to the rear of the building for an estimated cost of $158,248. "Riley's Plan C" will improve traffic flow and parking in the left parking lot, or the "kiss and ride" area for an estimated cost of $30,448.68.

Dirt will be moved and leveled and an expanded playground, with a cost estimate of $10,000.

In total, the improvements are estimated to cost $238,486,68, which is more than $11,000 less than the original $250,000 budgeted.

Justis said funding will be requested from the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

By the school board's April 26 work session, the invitation to bid documents will be prepared, as well as associated drawings and plans so that officials are sure they agree with the proposed improvements.

"We want to get these improvements done by the time school starts back up," said board member Kimberly Athey.

Justis added that bids may come in lower than the estimated cost, so additional improvements that didn't make the first proposal might be possible.