ALEXANDRIA, La. (KALB) - An Alexandria business owner said afternoon traffic caused by construction near Brame Middle School is making it hard for customers to get in and out of nearby businesses, and it’s hurting sales.
Tinsley Ducote, owner of Mary’s Heart Catholic Gift Store, said the traffic near her shop on Gus Kaplan Drive comes to a complete stop every afternoon, especially between 2:30 P.M. and 3:30 p.m. Cars line up bumper-to-bumper for school pickup, blocking parking lot entrances and causing delays.
“It’s not flowing. They’re at a standstill,” Ducote said. “It’s a line of cars waiting to pick up their kids, just like any other school, but this is a business district. Small businesses are trying to survive here.”
She said the issue started in the first week of school and has been happening every weekday since. Ducote said the traffic even stretches back to the highway, all due to a detour caused by ongoing construction at Brame.
“I’m trying not to panic because it’s only the third day of school,” she said. “But the traffic is backed up to the service road for an hour. I talked to someone at the school, and they said the construction will last all year.”
The project at Brame Middle School is part of a major upgrade funded by the District 62 bond, passed by voters in 2022. It includes new classrooms and a multipurpose room for students. While the improvements are meant to help students in the long run, business owners say the short-term traffic problems are causing real challenges now.
“It’s not just me,” Ducote said. “It’s also affecting nearby businesses like Metro, Sassy Girl and Roly-Poly; they’re all blocked in too.”
She’s asking the community to be mindful, not to block driveways, and to work together with the school to find a solution.
“If people can just work with me and the school, I’d appreciate it,” she said. “We want to get the word out that there’s going to be a backup during school pickup.”
In a statement, the Rapides Parish School Board said the temporary traffic changes are necessary to keep students and the community safe during construction. They said the district is working to shorten carpool loading times and thanked the public for their patience.
The school board confirmed the construction will last through the rest of the year, meaning businesses and drivers will likely be dealing with traffic delays for several more months.
Business owners say they understand the need for school improvements, but they hope a better traffic plan can be made so that customers can still get to local stores while construction continues.
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