Barely a day or two into the start of summer vacation for students and teachers, construction crews began arriving at Brick Memorial High School on Lanes Mill Road this season, kicking off the rush to complete a major reconfiguration and upgrade of the school’s parking lot before September.
The work has continued ever since, with some residents having expressed curiosity as to the details of the project. A contract for the project’s completion was awarded at the Board of Education’s May 30, 2023 meeting to Lucas Brothers, Inc. for $2,167,000. It will result in a complete re-design of the traffic flow around the property, plus add safety and drainage improvements and repaving.
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“We’re totally reconfiguring the lot,” said Business Administrator James Edwards. “It’s not going to look the same. You’ll now have the traffic flowing around the building. It used to – up to now – flow in front of the building both ways.”
The scope of the work, according to bid documents, includes grading and earth-moving, new curbing and sidewalks, accessibility features, striping and signage – plus, of course, repaving of the entire lot.
“The student drop-off will be in the front of the building, and the buses will now come in around the back and be routed out around the side,” said Edwards.
About 15 drainage basins will also be replaced, and one fire hydrant moved.
The project also includes new, state-of-the-art lighting for the drive aisles and parking area, however Lucas Brothers notified the district late last month that the lead time for new light fixtures to arrive will take longer than anticipated. Edwards said temporary light fixtures will be installed until November, when the clocks “fall back” and the new lighting will have been installed and activated.