By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
The Barren County School’s access road, which will offshoot from Trojan Trail and behind the middle school, the Trojan Academy and the high school, should be ready for use by the beginning of 2025, according to Anthony Frazier, director of pupil personnel.
The idea of the access road — which, as of now, has no official name — was first openly discussed at a Board of Education meeting in September 2023. Former Superintendent Bo Matthews explained at the meeting that the goal of the road would be to alleviate some of the traffic on Trojan Trail — particularly during the school year’s mornings and afternoons.
At the most recent Barren County Board of Education meeting it was revealed that the project was effectively halted until the district could secure a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife due to the potential disruption to the habitats of the Northern Long-Eared Bat and the Gray Bat.
As Richard Tutt, vice president for project development with American Engineers, said at the meeting the fish and wildlife biologists assessed the project’s impact and applied a “mitigation fee” based on the trees that were slated for clearing. Frazier said that fee came to roughly $1,300 and was paid to Imperiled Bat Conservation Fund.
With that taken care of, Scott and Murphy, which got both the bid for excavation for $597,480.70 and the bid for paving for $317,850, began work on the project on Friday, Sept. 6. According to Frazier, and the submitted bid, the work is set to be completed in 100 days with paving to be done “over 14 days.”
“If weather gets involved and they don’t make the 100 days they should have a good enough base on where it’d be fine to use it till spring hits,” Frazier said.
As previously reported the access road will be a one-way road for either individual vehicles or school buses that is currently planned to run behind the Barren County Middle School, the Trojan Academy and connect with the back parking lot of the Barren County High School. The path does require the removal of one of the tennis courts.
Civil plans by American Engineers that shows the path of the access road. Photo courtesy of Anthony Frazier.
Eventually, Frazier said, the district plans to extend the road beyond the high school, run behind WKU Glasgow and connect to Roseville Road.
Frazier said that while it is primarily aimed at decreasing traffic congestion it’s also an increase to student safety as the access road will allow easier access to the campus in an emergency.
“We’re going to have another way to get vehicles off campus or get emergency vehicles on to campus quicker,” Frazier said.
As previously reported, the total project comes to $915,330.70 but after “probable costs” totals $1.65 million.
