Underpass good idea

Those who want to build an underpass beneath Bogard Road where it runs between Wasilla High School and Wasilla Middle School have a good idea, and others should give it some serious consideration.

Up to 350 students at a time cross between the schools to attend various functions, and scores of young people cross the road throughout the day. Since 1992, two of them have been killed trying to cross the road between the schools. Thats two too many.

While it is good that the Department of Transportation plans to install traffic lights at the intersection of Crusey Street and Bogard Road, and at the planned intersection of Bogard Road, Nelson Street, Main Street and Wasilla-Fishhook Road, it may not be enough.

School officials say they have contacted state Rep. Vic Kohrings office for help with the underpass idea. This, too, is good and the Frontiersman hopes the state representative for Wasilla will give the concept serious consideration.

The underpass would not only remove the threat of mixing students with passing traffic but also help keep them out of the areas cold winter winds as they walk between the two schools.

In Anchorage, overpasses to protect students from vehicle traffic abound. Valley students deserve no less consideration when it comes to their safety.

The Frontiersman encourages parents and Parent-Teacher associations to look into the underpass proposal and, possibly, add their voices to those supporting such a project.

While on student safety . . .

While on the subject of student safety, the Frontiersman urges Valley motorists to drive with extra caution as daylight continues to wane. Be alert, not just in school zones but in local neighborhoods, too, for students walking along the sides of roads and streets as they head to school or the local school bus stop.

Our days as well as our nights will continue to get darker for a while, making students difficult to see, so please exercise additional caution and try to be alert for students walking along roads and streets.

Students can do their part, too, by wearing reflective clothing or reflective bands on their clothing to make themselves easier to see. And they can also help by practicing good safety while walking or waiting at school bus stops (no pushing or shoving each other on slippery streets, for example).

Accidents can and do happen, but there is much we can do as adults and students to keep those accidents from turning into tragedies. The Frontiersman believes we owe it to ourselves and our futures to practice roadside safety. Among those things, be alert when driving or walking on winter streets, make sure your vehicles turn signals, headlights and tail lights operate properly, and slow down or stop, when necessary, as school buses are picking up or dropping off students while you are driving.