West High School road repairs nearly complete

Work continues on Gamble Road Friday in front of Bentonville West High School in Centerton.
Work continues on Gamble Road Friday in front of Bentonville West High School in Centerton.

CENTERTON -- Roadwork is in the final stages and students are getting excited as West High School's opening nears.

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David Hickey, with Pro Concrete Works based in Sulphur Springs, cleans up the edges of freshly poured sidewalk Friday along Gamble Road in front of Bentonville West High School in Centerton.

Mayor Bill Edwards said nearly all road improvements are complete and says there is little cause to worry about traffic congestion around the school when it opens Aug. 15. The school is at located at 10519 Gamble Road. Around 1,200 students are expected to attend Bentonville's second high school.

West grand opening

A grand opening for West High School is planned for 10 a.m. Friday in front of the school at 10519 Gamble Road in Centerton. Mayor Bill Edwards, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Bentonville Superintendent Debbie Jones, former Superintendent Michael Poore and Travis Riggs, School Board president, will speak during a brief ceremony. Visitors can tour the facility during an open house afterward.

Source: Staff report

"I know a lot of people are worried about traffic with the new high school, but this school sits back off the roadway and there's two entrances, one entrance off Seba Road for the buses and staff, and on Gamble there's the student and visitor entrance, and that spreads it out," Edwards said. "That will keep some of our traffic down."

A majority of the road projects has been completed, Edwards said.

"Right now, Keller Road is done -- it's paved up to Seba Road," Edwards said. "Seba Road is done -- it's paved all the way from Keller Road to Zachery Street. It's striped as well. It looks real good."

Work remains on Gamble Road, which runs in front of the high school, but will be completed soon.

"All the initial work (on Gamble Road) -- the road widening -- is already done," Edwards said. "So they are just paving and finishing up the sidewalk, and they'll put grass on the rightaways."

The city also is close to installing a traffic light at the intersection of Seba and Gamble roads, an area that now has stop signs, Edwards said.

The remaining Gamble Road repairs should be complete in time for opening day, Edwards said.

The city also has road repairs planned beyond the streets around and near the high school. The city has secured $1.4 million in grants to fund a project that will include putting in turn lanes, traffic lights and sidewalks at Seba Road and Main Street, Edwards said.

"We hope it will be done by sometime in 2018," he said.

The city and Benton County are repairing Walters Road, located north of the high school. A quarter of Walters Road is located in Centerton, Edwards said.

"The road gives a straight shot onto Gamble," Edwards said. "Gamble Road actually changes to Walters Road after it passes Harbaugh Road."

Centerton police will be present around the school to help manage traffic, said Police Chief Cody Harper.

"We will be a more substantial presence the first week or two to help out with the confusion and help people figure out where they need to go," Harper said. "People aren't used to the routes or the traffic, so we're there to help out."

Students and staff were at the high school Thursday as band, basketball and football practices started.

Sophomore Nate Gibson is excited to begin classes.

"It's like starting a new culture," Gibson said.

Dakota McDonald, Gibson's friend, said he is proud to be part of the high school's beginning.

"When we're out of high school, we're going to know we started a new building block and a new tradition," McDonald said.

Albert Ortiz, head band director, and Erich Spaeth, associate band director, have noticed a sense of excitement among students.

"They are ecstatic," Ortiz said. "They are ready to start school and begin making history really."

NW News on 07/24/2016

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