Grafton roadwork doesn’t wait for classes to end

The reconstruction of Ninth Avenue in Grafton will have an impact on the pick up and drop off of students at Woodview Elementary and John Long Middle schools, officials told the School Board last week.

The intersection of Cedar Creek and Ninth Avenue is closed now, Director of Business Services Topher Adams told the board, and the intersection of Hickory and Ninth will close on June 8, a move that will impact the two schools on June 8 through 10 — the last three days of classes.

“We’re going to be working with the principals to determine what the plan is (for pickup and drop off) and get that information out to families,” he said.

Supt. Jeff Nelson noted that village and school officials have been discussing the work, adding that it will also have an impact on summer school.

“We’re aware of it and we’re working with the village,” he said, adding that the district will also be paving the driveway at the middle school after school closes this year.

The $4.9 million Ninth Avenue project, which involves everything from increasing the size of the force main and lift station to repaving the street, started May 4.

The work is being done by Dorner Inc. of Luxemburg, which submitted the low bid for the project.

It is needed to not only fix a deteriorating street but also to accommodate development in the village, Public Works Director Julie Esch said.

“The road on Ninth Avenue north of Hickory Street in particular needed to be done,” Esch said. “It’s a big project with sewer, water and road work.”

The project is expected to be substantially completed by Oct. 28.

Ninth Avenue is being rebuilt from Cedar Creek Road to Hickory Street, where Esch said there is a significant amount of alligator cracking.

Esch said work is being done on the north side of the street to minimize the impact on school traffic. Once school is out for the summer, work along Overland Trail to Hickory can be done without causing too much of an issue while school is in session.

“We’re in regular contact with the school district,” she said.