Traffic Flow Has Changed at AHS, West Middle

This was a letter written to parents of Andover students by Paul P. Szymanski, Assistant School Superintendent for Finance and Administration.

I would like to inform you of several changes that were made at the High School/West Middle School campus during our summer break. Several modifications and improvements were made on the grounds of West Middle School to improve drainage, parking, and accessibility. The modifications to the roadway affect West Middle and the High School. The changes should improve circulation at the campus, but more importantly, the changes should enhance student safety.

The first change is two-way traffic will be allowed on all campus access roads during morning arrival. This means the High School access road off Shawsheen Road will no longer be one-way in. This road reverts back to a two-way street.
The second change is the addition of two-way traffic on the left side of West Middle School. This section is no longer a one-way exit. There will be an island separating the inbound and outbound traffic, as well as a new sidewalk along the building for students. This area will be used for buses heading into the campus and for through traffic. There should be no parent pickup or drop-off in this area. For afternoon traffic, the inbound lane will be restricted to school buses only from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. There are no time restrictions for outbound traffic on this roadway; allowing for 3 exit roads (AHS main driveway, WMS side road, and Moraine St).

The third change involves traffic flow at the High School. In order to alleviate
congestion near the front of the school, all parent drop-off and pick-up will be in far right lane of the main entry road off Shawsheen Road as well as the Field House lot. The area between the Senior Lot/Collins Center Lot and Field House Lot will be restricted to buses only from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Through traffic during the morning and afternoon hours will flow in a circulating counter-clockwise pattern. Any vehicles entering the Collins Center lot will be required to continue around the back of the High School.

The fourth change involves parent pick-up at West Middle. As in past years, parents will be allowed to stage in the front horseshoe driveway. The change calls for parents to fill the West Middle lot once the horseshoe fills to the lot entrance. West Middle parking lot traffic should flow in a counterclockwise direction to stage as many cars in the lot rather than on Shawsheen
Road. The attached graphic is a site plan for the new traffic pattern.

The first day of school for Andover Public Schools is Aug. 6.