The Pulaski County School Board approved for $524,906.10 of its capital improvement funds to be earmarked for use toward the county’s plan to realign Hatcher Road. This approval came as a response to Pulaski County Administrator, Jonathan Sweet’s, formal request for assistance from the School Board in order to keep the project alive.
Pulaski County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Kevin Siers, stated, “I am very glad that the School Board is willing to use funding that has been designated for equipment and facility repairs to help the county move forward with this project. Things were progressing well with the Hatcher Road realignment while we were building the new middle school to the point that we expended $154,200 to build a connector road from PCMS to the County’s planned new road. We have caught a little heat over the past three years for having a road to nowhere on the middle school site, so I’m glad that Mr. Sweet and the Board of Supervisors are shifting their focus back to this project. I think everyone can agree that it will provide a much safer entrance and exit for our middle school students, families, and employees.”
School Board Chair, Ms. Beckie Cox stated, “Pulaski County Public Schools is pleased to offer this funding toward the advancement and realignment of Hatcher Road to improve the safety of the school entrances and exits, as well as the overall safety of the area for our community. We look forward to seeing this project finalized.”
The Hatcher realignment plan is part of a $8,400,000 revenue sharing project with the Virginia Department of Transportation that requires the locality to pay half of the total cost. It includes a proposed stoplight at the Cougar Express intersection and will provide improved access to the Countryside Landing housing development.