Traffic woes come with back-to-school rush

If summer traffic was a pain, 8,500 students racing to beat the first bell now that school is back in session will add to Carson City's congestion.

"The morning commute in front of the high school was just atrocious," said Carson City Sheriff's Lt. Ken Sandage on Wednesday.

Median construction expected to last another few weeks has cut the normally four-lane road in half, adding to the generally jammed blocks surrounding the city's only high school. He said because of the construction, all arteries leading to North Saliman Road are equally as clogged.

"Traffic was the heaviest and most snarled south of the high school near Robinson Street. We had to reroute traffic and have traffic turn only right as they were leaving the school."

The unavoidable school buses crossing Robinson Street into the high school parking lot compounded the gridlock.

Traffic at the Fifth Street roundabout heading into Eagle Valley Middle School is also a "nightmare," during the morning commute. Drivers can expect the roads in front of all 11 public schools to be busy before and after school.

"Other than students and school faculty, I'd advise all morning commuters to take an alternate route. Students and faculty members should allow extra time to safely arrive at the high school," Sandage said.

Sandage said deputies will be out in force at the start and end of the school day and during lunch hour at the high school.

"We planned on having to deal with this. We knew it was going to be bad and it was. People need to know they are going to endure a slow commute and it would be best to take an alternate route."

According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, on average 11,100 cars pass through the intersection at Saliman Road and Robinson Street per day. At the Fifth Street roundabout an average of 15,000 vehicle pass through per day.

n Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

School zones

Traffic is heaviest around the following schools during their start and release times:

• Bordewich-Bray Elementary, Thompson and King streets, starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

• Empire Elementary, 1260 Monte Rosa Drive, starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

• Fremont Elementary, 1511 Fire Box and Saliman roads, starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

• Fritsch Elementary, 504 Bath St., starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

• Mark Twain Elementary, 2111 Carriage Crest Drive, starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

• Seeliger Elementary, 2800 S. Saliman Road, starts at 8:25 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

• Carson Middle School, 1140 W. King St., starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m.

• Eagle Valley Middle School, 4151 E Fifth St., starts at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m.

• Carson High School, 1111 N. Saliman Road, starts at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 1:55 p.m.

• Pioneer High School, 300 Corbett St., begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 1:30 p.m.

• Opportunity High School, 300 Corbett St., begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 12:15 p.m.

Penalty Box

The price for a ticket for speeding in a school zone varies.

• At 5 mph over the speed limit, fees and fines total $78

• At 10 mph, the ticket is $122

• At 5 mph, the ticket is $167

• Excessive speed can result in a charge of reckless driving and an arrest.