LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — With the school year just weeks away, Silver Creek Schools and nearby businesses are still dealing with the impacts of the ongoing U.S. 31 construction project in Sellersburg.
The Indiana Department of Transportation began work updating and improving U.S. 31 in February.
The construction has brought lane closures, detours and traffic delays along one of the main routes to Silver Creek Elementary, Middle and High schools, as well as several local businesses.
"It's been a challenge," said Assistant Superintendent Todd Balmer.
More than 3,000 students will return to the district in about two weeks, and Balmer said transportation staff has spent months adjusting bus routes and traffic plans to keep things running smoothly.
"A lot of our community members, they know to kind of avoid this area if they can, but that's not an option for our families and our car riders and our buses," Balmer said.
Balmer said as long as the intersection of U.S. 31 and Ind. 403 reopens by Aug. 6, the district expects the start of the school year to go as planned.
INDOT officials said they're confident that deadline will be met, though drivers should still expect one lane to remain closed while construction continues.
"Folks can probably expect exactly what they've had before school let out," INDOT spokesperson Gary Brian said. "We're still going to have one lane closed. We are still going to be doing the rest of this work."
For businesses in the area, it's meant fewer customers.
Chris Basket, owner of Geek Out Cafe and Gaming and the hobby shop next door, said retail sales are down about 20% compared to this time last year. He said some customers have had to drive well out of their way just to reach the store.
"It's been a pain in the butt for sure," he said.
When construction first began, INDOT planned to complete the project in three phases, with the first phase wrapping up in June.
Brian said the construction will now be combined into one larger project, but that it remains on schedule, expected to fully wrap up by Thanksgiving.
For now, the Sellersburg community is hoping traffic improves enough to keep the start of the school year running smoothly.
"We just continue to thank our families, our communities for their flexibility and support as we work through this together," Balmer said.
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