This morning's commute into Panther Creek High School in Cary was "really, really smooth," on the first day of the 10-month closing of nearby McCrimmon Parkway, Principal Rodney Nelson said.
Many drivers arrived earlier than usual, others arranged carpools, and 33 students who are normally dropped off in the morning took advantage of express bus services offered at four nearby elementary schools, Nelson said.
Buses picked up students at Highcroft and Mills Park elementary schools and took them to Panther Creek. Service was also offered at Green Hope and Carpenter elementary schools but no students took advantage of the service.
"We had no problems with the traffic. It went really, really smooth," Nelson said. The school had sent information to parents and students about the closing and a Saturday morning phone message went out as a reminder, Nelson said.
The N.C. Turnpike Authority said the closing is necessary to allow for construction of twin two-lane bridges that will lift McCrimmon over the Western Wake Freeway portion of the Triangle Expressway toll road.
The closing cuts off access to the high school from the west, but students, parents and teachers will be able to get to the school on McCrimmon Parkway from the east.
Nelson said 14 students were late for school, which starts at 7:25 a.m., but only one student was delayed by the road closing.
