PARK VIEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES — Construction of Bradley County’s new Park View Elementary School on Minnis Road is moving ahead, although the educational complex will not be ready for the start of the new school year. The photo above was taken Monday from Minnis Road, framing the structure among surrounding trees. Students attending Park View this first year will begin classes Aug. 9 in the Big City University facilities at North Cleveland Church of God. The new school should be ready for students, faculty and administrators by mid-September. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS
Bradley County Engineer Sandra Knight said Friday a wetlands mitigation plan was approved June 30 by the state agency to clear the way for work to resume.
Work on the road began in June 2009 and was stopped a month later in July after encountering a low-grade wetland on about .35 acres. The area was not originally classified as a wetland until after work began.
Bradley County Engineer Sandra Knight said the area will be mitigated to an area between Park View Elementary School and Elrod Park. She said Minnis Road will be widened to three lanes between the school and Highway 64. As the park develops, she is hopeful of widening Minnis Road all the way to Old Powerline Road.
Bradley County Highway Superintendent Tom Collins said this morning work should resume the middle of this week or Monday. He is hopeful Minnis Road will be finished by the time the new school opens in the fall.
Collins said motorists should expect delays and lane closures.
The next highway project scheduled is a bridge replacement on Brymer Creek Road. Work was scheduled to begin later this month, but it was delayed until after Minnis Road is finished.
