Construction won’t affect football parking
|
“APAC has told us they hope to have the binding down, and if nothing else, we can park on gravel,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale. “We anticipate that will be the case. If not, then there will be a plan in place.”
APAC general superintendent Patrick McClanahan said on site yesterday that football fans are more than welcome to park on the gravel parking lot when attending Friday’s season-opener.
“It won’t hurt it a bit,” said McClanahan. “It takes a while to pack this stuff down and the more people who drive on it, the better. It will help compact it.”
The paving project, contracted to be completed by the end of July, went past its due date because of wet weather and extra work needed to solidify the ground beneath what will be the new southwest parking lot and bus ramp (near the stadium facing Caldwell Street). The project will likely not be fully completed for a couple more weeks.
McClanahan says much of the delay has been because large holes were found under the surface once asphalt was removed.
“We run into this a lot in this county,” said McClanahan. “I guess it goes back hundreds and thousands of years when this area was probably covered by shallow seas. There’s a silty, sandy type layer of material we find that won’t hold weight and if you don’t have a stabilized base, you don’t have a good paving job.”
McClanahan said large stones were placed in the holes. Dump trucks are currently bringing about 3,000 tons of gravel to the parking lot.
According to Warren County Middle School principal Betty Wood, the parking lot serves as parking area for teachers as well as the bus pickup.
“We’ve been using other areas,” Wood said. “The first day was a big snafu, but once parents got used to it, it went pretty well. It seems to get better every day.”
Wood admits she had hoped the project would be complete by opening day, noting shifting the parking areas as well as the bus traffic was a logistical nightmare at first.
“I guess we took lemons and made lemonade,” Wood said.
According to Warren County High School principal James Bennett, a group will be at Nunley Stadium to look at the project today and make a decision as to whether there will be any issues as to safety and parking. Bennett noted there is a large crowd expected for the opening night of local high school football, therefore, regardless of the southwest lot, it is recommended fans get to the stadium early for the scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff.