Solar Canopy Project To Disrupt Traffic On Vernon's Center Road

VERNON, CT — Construction on a solar canopy at a parking area at a Vernon elementary school will disrupt traffic at an already tricky area of town, the school system's safety chief said Monday.

Construction of the canopy at the rear lot of Center Road School could begin early next month, Vernon Public Schools Supervisor of Logistics and Safety Steven Langlais said. An exact start date has not been announced.

The construction company performing the work will be utilizing about three-quarters of the new parking lot during for about three weeks — perhaps even longer if the weather is uncooperative, Langlais said.

Staff members who normally use the rear lot will be parking in the front lot of the school, which will reduce the amount of lanes for drop-offs and pickups, Langlais said. A police officer will be positioned to direct traffic at the entrance to the school and extra staff members will be in the lot "trying to make this process go smoothly," Langlais said.

Center Road School sits near the intersection of Route 30, Bolton Road and Center Road and is one of the busiest exchanges in town, particularly with its close proximity to Exit 66 on Interstate-84. Drivers from several towns pass through the area en route to the highway.

The police department, the ambulance building and a fire station are also nearby and things get even more complicated when public safety vehicles are dispatched for a call.

Langlais said drivers who do not have students at the school should consider taking alternate roads during the construction period, particularly from about 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. and from about 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. during the week.

School and police officials will be providing updates as the project moves along.