New parking lot coming to Nayatt School

Project will precede Nayatt Road repaving work

Posted 7/9/18

Michael Messore was always careful where he parked his car when he visited Nayatt School. 

The superintendent of Barrington schools said he usually used the faculty lot toward the back of …

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New parking lot coming to Nayatt School

Project will precede Nayatt Road repaving work

Posted

Michael Messore was always careful where he parked his car when he visited Nayatt School. 

The superintendent of Barrington schools said he usually used the faculty lot toward the back of the building, because a space in front could be blocked in by parents' cars during afternoon dismissal.

But a new construction project at the local elementary school will remedy a number of potential parking problems. Crews recently started building a new parking lot and sidewalks at Nayatt School. The new lot will shift pickup and drop-off to the side of the building and away from the front entrance. There will also be a dedicated bus lane.

"The overall condition (of the lot) called for improvements," said Mr. Messore. 

At its meeting on July 2, the Barrington School Committee approved a bid for the parking lot project to D'Ambra Construction Company for $824,430.25. D'Ambra was the lowest qualified bidder for the work, and funding for the project will come from the school department's capital reserve account. The project is eligible for 39 percent reimbursement from the state.

Mr. Messore said the project will bring the Nayatt School parking lot into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will also address a number of problems the old parking lots had. Mr. Messore said there were drainage issues with the faculty parking lot, while the parking spaces at the front of the school were built on a slope.

"Right now you're parked on a hill," said Mr. Messore.

The construction will create a safer environment, said the superintendent, and better accommodate the volume of vehicles frequenting the school on a daily basis when classes are in session. 

According to a press release from the school committee, the project will "include improved exterior lighting and will support a safe loading/unloading environment for students by increasing the efficiency of the bus dismissal operations and reducing congestion within the site and on the adjacent roadway; accessibility improvements will be provided through the site, including new wheelchair ramps, striping of cross walks, accessible walkways, stairs with railings, and the addition of accessible parking spaces…" 

The project is scheduled to be completed in August, prior to the start of the 2018-2019 academic year.  

A Rhode Island Department of Transportation project to re-pave Nayatt Road is being coordinated with the Nayatt School parking lot project. 

Crews are expected to begin repaving Nayatt Road next month. The complete project runs the length of Nayatt Road from the intersection with Rumstick Road at the eastern end to Washington Road at the west end. In addition to the new asphalt roadway surface, crews will also replace drainage systems and replace the sidewalk which runs from Rumstick to Collins Court. 

A DOT official said the plan also calls for the extension of the sidewalk west from Collins Court to Broadview Drive. The DOT official added that the sidewalks will feature granite curbing.

Officials from the state department of transportation said they would let the Nayatt School parking lot project start first. 

Playground closed

The Nayatt School grounds, including the playground equipment and ball fields, are closed to the public for the next month and a half.

Mr. Messore said that the elementary school property is off-limits while crews dig up the old parking lot and replace it with the new surface and sidewalks.

Mr. Messore said closing the playground and surrounding fields is a matter of public safety. He added that the property will be off-limits to the public for the next six weeks, at least.

HMS next?

The Nayatt School project is the latest in a series of parking lot improvements across the district. New parking lots have recently been constructed at the high school (2011-12), Sowams School and Primrose Hill School. New parking lots will also be completed as part of the Barrington Middle School construction project that is scheduled to be finished in Aug. 2019. 

Mr. Messore said officials will next take a closer look at the Hampden Meadows School parking lot. 

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