Maple Street section near Lockhart Junior High closes for utilities installation

By Miles Smith
Editor / POST-REGISTER

A section of Maple Road near Lockhart Junior High School will be out of commission for up to two months as a contractor installs utilities that will serve new homes being constructed in the area.
“The contractor that is constructing Phase 3 of the Clearfork Subdivision is reconstructing about 900 feet of Maple Street from the Junior High to one of the (subdivision’s) main east entrances,” Lockhart City Manager Vance Rodgers said. “They’re doing total reconstruction of that section of the street.”
Reconstruction of the portion of Maple that continues to Mockingbird could come at a later date, but won’t be included in this project, which is expected to last between 45-60 days.
“There’s about another 1,800 feet to go before you reach Mockingbird,” Rodgers said. “That will be part of another development.”
The roadwork will temporarily reduce the avenues for vehicular traffic traveling to and from the junior high, as Maple Street is barricaded as the project continues.
Lockhart ISD Superintendent Susan Bohn said the city was helping mitigate potential hazards and traffic.
“At the district’s request, the City has indicated that the contractor on the project will install a temporary fence along the walking path in an effort to help keep walkers and riders safe on the path,” Bohn wrote in a letter to parents sent over Christmas break. “Also at the district’s request, the City has told LISD administrators they will have the contractor lay down a temporary drive for cars to get to the back drive behind LJHS in time for students to return on Tuesday, January 9.”
But, Bohn said, traffic delays are inevitable with the temporary loss of the roadway.
“Even given this temporary drive, the inability of cars to use a large stretch of Maple Street will surely cause significant traffic congestion and delays during student pick-up after school,” Bohn wrote. “The district anticipates that, while the Maple Street project is ongoing, City Line Road, which is perpendicular to Maple Street and runs along the other side of LJHS, will be very congested, and that the congestion will cause very long waits and a difficult situation while the Maple Street project is underway.”
Lockhart ISD suggests that parents take the following steps to help mitigate traffic. —Have children who are able to ride the school buses use this option.
—Reach out to other parents to arrange to carpool to lessen the number of cars waiting in line.
—If you do not have to come to the campus, try to avoid the area. If you have to come to campus, give yourself extra time to navigate the traffic.