New safety zone, land deal with CDOT highlight Tuesday’s back-to-school day in District 49

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The recent trend toward increasing school safety for drivers and pedestrians continues as District 49 becomes the first local district to resume classes.

At Vista Ridge High School, the district has its first 20 mph school safety zone at the two main entrances along Black Forest Road and Wolf Ridge Road.

One of the four sets of flashers wasn't working; a repairman said that a faulty solar panel wasn't charging the battery, and he expected to have it operating by late morning.

Another change involves a land deal with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) that was finalized on Monday, ending discussions that began a year ago.

CDOT will acquire a small parcel -- less than an acre -- that goes through a modular building at the Patriot High School for advanced learning, along US 24 in Falcon.

Specifically, CDOT will pay D49 $400,000 for a construction and maintenance easement as part of a 2.5-mile widening of the highway between Garrett and Woodmen Roads.

The easement also will include part of the school's parking lot.

CDOT has been planning the project since 2016, plans to start next spring, and finish it in the summer of 2029 -- around the same time that a CDOT roundabout project is scheduled to begin at the nearby intersection of US 24 and Judge Orr Road.