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One option — changing the traffic pattern within school property.
The details are still being worked out, according to First Selectman George Temple and Sgt. Dan Semosky, the town’s resident state trooper.
Route 67 is a heavily traveled road, as is the Center School driveway when buses and parents are dropping off and picking up students.
Vehicles stack on Route 67 trying to get into the school, while vehicles on Route 67 try to get around the vehicles waiting to get in.
“You have traffic on Route 67, you have parents driving in to pick up their children, it’s a traffic issue,” Semosky said.
The recent crash involved a motorist leaving the property who pulled out and was hit by oncoming traffic. A few vehicles waiting to get into the school were also struck. There were no major injuries reported.
Officials who met about the issue Feb. 15 included the Center School principal, a school maintenance supervisor, the school district superintendent, and a bus company representative.
“We’re brainstorming, trying to come up with solutions,” Semosky said.
Speeding is historically a problem on Route 67, too.
The speed limit in the area of Center School is 25 mph while school is in session and 35 mph when school is not in session.
There are also flashing lights warning motorists of the school zone.
And a police officer has been placed at the school in the morning and afternoon as a precaution, officials said.
In addition, Oxford police have been stationing a cruiser on Route 67 at times to slow motorists down.
It’s a stealth move, because sometimes the police car is empty.
“Sometimes there is an officer in it, sometimes there isn’t,” Semosky said.
Temple updated residents on the Center School issue during a Board of Selectmen meeting earlier this month.
Officials Feb. 15 reviewed several options to improve safety at the entrance/exit, Temple said. The tentative plan is to reconfigure the internal traffic pattern and see if it helps the problem, Temple said.
“Route 67 is a very tough road,” he said.
