LEANDER, Texas — Construction on Raider Way in Leander has turned into a traffic nightmare for some parents who have children at Rouse High School and Knox Wiley Middle School.
The campuses are situated along the stretch of the road, and there is only one way in and out.
The construction is part of the city's $17 million planned project that will widen Raider Way and East Woodview Drive into three lanes aimed at improving sidewalks, crosswalks and bicycle lanes. The project, which is set to last two years, began in August 2023.
It's expected to be completed by July 2025, according to the city.
Rochelle Kelly has a 10th grader at Rouse High School and told KVUE about the traffic and congestion.
"It took over an hour to get my high schooler to school, and he was about 45 minutes late to his very first class on the first day," Kelly said. "I feel like it's improved over the course of these weeks, but it's definitely still frustrating, still taking a really long time."
Kelly said that while she looks forward to the safety upgrades, she worries for the rest of the school year. She and her husband have altered their schedules, waking up earlier and have been carpooling.
"It's a long project. If we can do anything to get it done quicker, I'm sure it would make everybody a lot happier," Kelly said.
KVUE reached out to the city of Leander. A spokesperson provided the following statement in response, which reads in part:
"The City of Leander fully understands the inconvenience and traffic congestion caused by the construction on Raider Way and Woodview Drive ... ...When completed, traffic and pedestrian safety will be improved as well as vehicle flow, especially during school-related activities at Wiley Middle School and Rouse High School."
The city added that it is working closely with Leander ISD and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority on a traffic plan to smooth the impacts for drivers.
KVUE also reached out to Leander ISD. A spokesperson said while the project is outside the district's control, officials understand the frustration from parents.
The district said that during the first week of classes, there were volunteers who helped direct traffic as well as district leaders who were monitoring traffic flow. However, the district did add that it has provided an option for families by offering bus transportation service for all students zoned for Rouse High School and Wiley Middle School.
"We are grateful to our families and students for their patience and understanding. They have been thoughtful and solution-oriented in their suggestions to campus and district leaders. In the meantime, we will continue to keep our eyes and ears open for ways to improve student drop-off and pick-up," a spokesperson for the district said.