Traffic moves smoothly at SV
JACKSON TWP — Despite the absence of a bridge that normally carries hundreds of students to the Seneca Valley School District secondary campus, the first day of school on Thursday went smoothly.
The bridge on Hartmann Road spanning Connoquenessing Creek, known as the Harmony Junction Bridge, will be closed this school year while it is being replaced. Hartmann Road is one of the two major routes to the main school campus.
Its closure will cause about 1,200 vehicles to be rerouted daily.
District officials credit students, parents and staff for the uneventful morning and afternoon. Linda Andreassi, director of public relations, said as requested by the district, staff and student drivers arrived early, parents put students on buses instead of dropping them off, and more students carpooled.
Andreassi hopes that diligence will continue.
"Because the morning and afternoon went well, we don't want people to relax and change their habits," said Andreassi. "Please continue coming in early, carpooling and sending students to school on the bus."
High school Principal Mark Korcinsky agreed, saying the true snapshot of traffic conditions for the remainder of the school year will only become clear after a week or so of classes.
"Everyone was very excited because it was the first day of school," said Korcinsky, "but it may wear off."
Andreassi said the first day of school went smoothly throughout the district.
Township Police Chief Len Keller said traffic moved smoothly and efficiently as it traveled into and out of the secondary campus.
He said the campus' two student resource officers directed traffic at the more crucial intersections, and they will continue to do so as long as needed.
Keller echoed Andreassi's sentiments regarding the group effort that made the first day efficient in the face of the missing bridge.
"A lot of this is a result of good planning between law enforcement, the school district and the media," said Keller. "All in all, everyone gets credit for a successful day."
However, the chief said the day was not without incident as two student drivers were cited for speeding. Keller said a pickup truck with four unbelted students in the front seat was clocked going 63 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. Another student in that zone was cited for traveling 54 mph with two occupants in the car.
"Those two speeds are indicative of what would happened if traffic had not been slowed (by the missing bridge)," said Keller. "We will continue to aggressively pursue speed violations to avoid a tragedy."
Keller said at afternoon dismissal an officer directed traffic at the intersection of Route 68 and Main Street, Harmony, which kept traffic flowing smoothly.
He hopes the same scenario continues in all venues at the school.
"If (Friday) night's football game goes anywhere near as well, I'll be a happy man," he said.
