LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Streets and driveways are blocked every weekday in some neighborhoods across Louisville.

Those traffic jams are caused by pickup lines outside of Jefferson County Public Schools.

WDRB News went to Norton Elementary School in the east end ahead of the 4:20 p.m. dismissal time on Friday. Traffic spilled onto the street more than 15 minutes before the final bell, and spread onto both sides of Brownsboro Road.

Just around the corner from the school, Springdale Automotive workers witness the traffic daily.

"It's two lanes, and also with the construction down at the bridge, it's one lane down there, so it gets real bad," Jason Willouby said. "We see people coming into oncoming traffic every single day."

Ryan Boyd pulled up at 4:03 p.m. to pick up his son. He was stuck in a left-hand turn lane on Barbour Lane.

"I definitely don't want to be here in the middle of the road, that's for sure," Boyd said. "It's a matter of minutes."

He sends another child to Noe Middle School on the bus, but Norton is close enough to drive.

"If the buses were better, we would not be in this line," Boyd said.

A JCPS spokesperson said the amount of car-riders has jumped 5% since last school year. At a recent Metro Council meeting, Dr. Rob Fulk, JCPS' Chief Operations officer, said the bus driver shortage is projected to worsen next year.

Councilman Scott Reed, R-District 16, told JCPS officials that the Norton Elementary traffic jams are a district problem, but Fulk repeatedly said JCPS cannot control issues outside of school campuses.

The district has ordered emergency projects at four schools, including Medora Elementary in the south end, that should should help with the backups.

However, that relief is not coming to the neighbors around Norton, which is surrounded by two-lane roads, construction and constant concern.

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