Traffic patterns at AGHS have become increasingly worse throughout the years. Fortunately, the times of students arriving late and getting stuck in traffic for long periods on the way home might be coming to an end.
Over spring break, the city plans to construct a drive-over roundabout on Fair Oaks, which will help prevent illegal left turns and inevitable traffic jams. The roundabout’s construction materials should allow emergency vehicles to drive over it easily, making it safe and practical.
“The construction will take place over spring break,” Principal Brad Grumbles said. “When the students return, everything should be new and completed.”
Photo courtesy of Brad Grumbles
Administrators hope to lead several walk-throughs and screen an instructional video in all advisory classes after spring break to educate students about the changes.
“[The roundabout] will definitely pose less of a concern for amateur drivers than the current combination of the illegal left and [extreme amounts of] traffic,” Grumbles said.
The roundabout will work to merge traffic lanes, creating a spot to turn in and out of the parking lot with yields rather than stops. This should make entrances and exits of the parking lot significantly safer, protecting drivers from oncoming traffic and reducing the risk of head-on collisions.
“[It will ultimately] improve traffic flow and make everybody get in and out quicker, reducing the chances of collisions,” Grumbles said.
Many parents, students, and staff members rely on turning left out of the parking lot for their daily commutes. However, for many reasons, current traffic patterns mark this turn as illegal. Therefore, this roundabout, allowing the legal left turn, is an essential addition to the city of Arroyo Grande.
“It will force more students to leave through the center [exit of the parking lot],” Grumbles said. “Which should make traffic flow safer and [more] quickly.”
The construction material is easy to remove, making the roundabout temporary if challenges appear. However, if all goes smoothly, the city plans to make the traffic change a permanent solution.
“The main motivation for the roundabout is the current reconstruction of the Traffic Way Bridge,” Grumbles said.
The city will implement a full closure of the bridge, which will be taken down and replaced during a nine-month project.
The current traffic pattern begins with a right turn out of the school parking lot, followed by a left at the Traffic Way stoplight, where traffic flows straight over the bridge. With the construction of the bridge, the school and city instead hope to direct traffic across the neighboring street and through the outskirts of the village.
“The motivation was not AGHS, but the city,” Grumbles said. “The opportunity to have the project completely funded by the city made it [possible].”
The city of Arroyo Grande has been and will seemingly continue to help lead the project and work with the student population to aid the installation and community reception of the project.
In addition to the Fair Oaks roundabout and bridge construction, the city plans to construct a stoplight at the Fair Oaks freeway exit, tackling each of the school’s traffic problems at once. This addition will make both school and work commutes faster and safer for everyone.
The school and city plan to work with students, neighboring homeowners, and the community to make this change as smooth and effective as possible.
