Carlisle Area School District presents site, traffic and cost plan for proposed middle school; Act 34 hearing to be scheduled

Carlisle Area School District architects on Thursday outlined a proposed site plan, traffic improvements and cost estimate for a new middle school they propose to locate on the athletic fields between Wilson and the Turnpike.

The plan places the main entrance to the school facing east, separates bus and parent drop-off with a dedicated bus loop and a longer parent queuing loop, and preserves at least one recreational field to replace the three existing fields. Traffic consultant Jared Veil of Traffic Planning and Design (TPD) recommended two roundabouts—one at the Wagner’s Gap Road intersection and a second internal roundabout—to calm speeds and separate bus and passenger vehicle movements on campus.

The architects presented a total, all-in project estimate of about $98,000,000 for the middle-school program, which the team described as including building construction ($61,000,000), site work (about $7.5 million), and a $2.5 million allowance for the Wagner’s Gap roundabout. Scott Cousin of Crabtree Roebaugh & Associates said the district’s campus improvements subtotal is roughly $80.8 million and campus-wide site work is about $4.6 million; the all-inclusive total shown to the board was $98,000,000. Grace Hyland, senior project manager with Crabtree…