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Solon schools warn of congestion, bus-route changes as Som Center Road work shifts north
Summary
District officials told the Solon City Board of Education Aug. 18 that Som Center Road construction will change traffic patterns starting the first day of school, prompting adjusted bus routes, advice to parents to allow extra travel time and coordination with the city and Ohio Department of Transportation.
District staff told the Solon City Board of Education on Aug. 18 that the Som Center Road construction sequence will switch traffic to northbound lanes starting the first day of school and that the district has adjusted bus routes accordingly.
The superintendent's report noted that the change was confirmed the prior week and that the district has routed roughly 3,700 students onto buses out of about 4,700 students districtwide. District staff urged parents to allow an extra 30 minutes on the first day of school, saying: "Wednesday is going to be hectic" and advising people to "anticipate congestion." The board also said bus riders will be excused if the bus is late.
Board members and staff discussed whether the city police would assist with traffic control at school arrival and dismissal points. District staff said decisions about traffic control and traffic-signal management are made by the city and, in some parts, by the Ohio Department of Transportation. The superintendent said the district can request police assistance but does not control the construction sequencing or signal operations that are part of the ODOT-managed project.
The board described operational steps the district is taking: adjusted bus routing to reflect northbound traffic, placement of district traffic controllers at the high school for arrival times, communications to families with maps showing new routes, and an explicit request that staff and teachers leave earlier to arrive on time. District staff also reiterated that the walking-zone rules remain unchanged but that Som Center Road residents are not in walking zones because of safety and roadway conditions.
Board members said they will coordinate with city officials and monitor the first days of school to determine whether additional traffic control (including police directions at intersections) will be needed.
No formal action or new funding was taken at the meeting; the item was presented as an informational update tied to the superintendent's report.
