New school traffic route starts Tuesday

GOSNELL — After another vehicle accident last week on Air Base Highway, Gosnell officials have decided to redirect school traffic, according to Gosnell superintendent Bonard Mace.

The accident involved three vehicles.

The district’s security team is working with the Gosnell Police Department to implement the change, which begins Tuesday.

On Thursday, the Gosnell Police Department posted on its Facebook page, cautioning motorists to have patience and to pay attention to directions.

“This will take some time to get used to,” the post reads. “All vehicles will enter in where the GPD directs traffic. This now includes Pre-K. The loading and unloading at Pre-K will now be at the south end by the (Gosnell electronic) sign. When exiting Pre-K onto Airbase Hwy DO NOT turn north (left). The speed limit is 25mph when children are present. No talking/texting on cellphones. We hope this helps prevent any further accidents. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Mace said the district will remove the Pre-K parking blocks and repaint the road, then reline parking the other direction. For years, traffic has been an issue when school begins and ends as parents pick up their children. Parents often park in the merge lane waiting to pick up their children.

In February 2019, Gosnell Police Chief Darrell Watkins told the Gosnell City Council speeding was an issue and at the time there had been 17 accidents in a two-year period. At the time, he told the council that the highway is not set up for school traffic and encouraged local traffic to find a different route during times of heavy school traffic.