As school gets fully underway this week in Jefferson, there will be some changes that motorists need to keep in mind.

Jefferson Police Chief Mark Clouse says with the addition of the new high school, there will be increased traffic both on Highway 30 and Grimmel Road. He talks about a possible change to how people will travel on Grimmel Road.

“I made a suggestion that Grimmel Road itself we drop that down to 35 (miles-per-hour). It’s basically just on the north side of the train tracks now. It’s currently 45 (mph) out to 220th (Street) or Highway 30. The (City) Council is looking at that and it’s probably going to drop down to 35, which is a much more reasonable speed to be traveling around the school.”

Clouse says with the relocation of the middle school to where the former high school was, there will be an increase in foot traffic and more students bicycling to school. Clouse notes, due to that change there will no longer be a temporary 4-way stop at the intersection of Elm and Madison streets. He reminds parents of elementary students about the proper way to drop-off and pick-up kids during the school day.

“You have to come off of South Cedar Street to enter the turnaround at the school. You cannot enter the west entrance to that turnaround, you have to go into that east entrance.”

Clouse adds for motorists to be extra vigilant about watching for kids as they go back to school.