Ongoing construction on Randall Street has led to traffic jams impacting students’ ability to get home and to work in a reasonable amount of time. The closure has effectively reduced exit routes from the school to a single option, causing delays and prompting some drivers to seek alternative paths.
“It’s been a mess trying to get out after school. It takes an extra 15 minutes to get home,” said junior Jerry Thomson.
After school is dismissed at 2:18, students rush outside to be the first one out of the school; however, with this road closure, students can expect to sit for around 15 minutes in traffic. The construction is part of the Town of Fuquay-Varina transportation improvement initiative. This includes over 40 projects currently underway in different stages of construction to help the longevity of our town. While these projects are aimed to improve our town, the immediate effects have been challenging for daily commuters.
In response to the congestion, some drivers have chosen to use an unofficial dirt trail as a shortcut to bypass the traffic. This allows drivers to bypass the one street all the students are on, and allows a shortcut past the line of traffic.
“Driving on the dirt road isn’t very ideal, but it’s better than waiting in line for half an hour,” said junior Carson McGuirt.
Town officials have acknowledged the inconvenience to students and are working to expedite the construction process. However, no specific completion date has been set on the Randall Street project. Students and parents are advised to prepare for additional travel time and to be cautious when taking alternative routes. The town encourages residents to stay informed about ongoing projects through their official transportation projects page. As Fuquay-Varina continues to grow, infrastructure improvements remain a priority, causing issues daily for drivers.
