PHOTOS: Road work causes headaches for Linn-Mar students

UPDATE: Even before students got to class, they had a math problem to solve.

What do you get when you add 1,750 students to one entrance at Linn-Mar High School?

“It's going to be backed up, that is the biggest problem,” said Jim Young, 68, of Cedar Rapids.

Young is a part-owner of Elite Flagging, and spent Wednesday morning directing traffic heading to and from Linn-Mar.  This summer the city planned to complete a re-construction of 10th Street running right in front of the high school.

But, on the first day of class, the main road into and out of Linn-Mar High School remains closed.

“That's a huge issue we're dealing with,” said Katie Mulholland, Linn-Mar Schools Superintendent.

It's not just the schools issue. The city had to hire Elite Flagging to control traffic.

Even with decades of experience, Young said 10th Street and the crossroads are busy. “Hell, even I get confused,” said Young.

The city had planned to have 10th Street looking like new by now. “The total intent was to have it done before school starts,” said Marion city engineer Dan Whitlow.

Mother Nature had other ideas, and brought rain instead.

So much rain, Whitlow said the contractors have only billed 60 some days this summer.  He said the project is supposed to last more than 120 days. “Usually we only expect 10-15 rain days a summer.”

When it's done, the road will have turning lanes and beautiful sidewalks for students.

“The sidewalks, we were hoping to have them done yesterday, but it rained again,” said Whitlow.

If the rain holds off, Whitlow hopes 10th Street in front of Linn-Mar High School will be at least open to traffic in one to two weeks.

PHOTOS: Road work near Linn-Mar

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