The US 63/Sixth Street intersection near the North Tama Community School District campus in Traer pictured on Sunday, Jan. 12. On Jan. 9, the district announced that US 63’s four lanes will be condensed down to two with the far western lane adjacent to the school closed as part of the new high school addition construction project. The closure is expected to remain through December 2025. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

TRAER – Despite the inconvenience to drivers in the area, a planned road closure on the south side of Traer is more indication construction continues to hum along on the North Tama Community School District’s Phase I facility project.

Last Thursday, Jan. 9, North Tama CSD announced the southbound lane of US 63 directly east of the district’s campus was soon to close as part of a transition from four lanes to two within the construction zone. The resulting two-lane setup will remain through December 2025 as part of the high school addition project.

According to Principal Taylor Howard who spoke briefly with the newspaper last Tuesday ahead of the closure announcement, the facility project is well underway and running on-time with plans to move high school classrooms from the original 1917 building into the new addition some 11 months from now over Christmas break.

In the fall of 2023, the district successfully passed a $14.85 million school bond to fund Phase I of the four-phase facility master plan. In addition to the new high school, Phase I includes secure entry upgrades across the K-12 campus, reconfiguration of the locker rooms and weight room to become ADA-compliant, paving of the existing back parking lot, and selective maintenance on other parts of campus.

A groundbreaking was held for Phase I this past September.

Following the completion of the first phase, Phase II is set to address the 1917 building by demolishing and replacing it with a one-story addition that will house art, library, a commons, the kitchen, administration, pupil services, and more.