Northeastern Abilene’s extreme makeover is coming to an end after almost three months of construction on Judge Ely Boulevard and a complete renovation of Taylor Elementary School.
Since May, the city has been repaving roads throughout town, including Judge Ely Boulevard, ACU’s main entrance roadway. Cody Marshall, Abilene City Engineer, said he is impressed with how soon the projects will end.
“The only thing that really remains is putting the striping back down,” Marshall said.
Marshall expects the city to finish the roadwork in the next couple of weeks. He said the construction will end a month earlier than expected, making the flow of transportation more convenient for those traveling on Judge Ely Boulevard.
Workers began striping Thursday afternoon.
Next up, as Taylor Elementary School begins its first renovated school year, ACU students are encouraged to take caution when driving on Avenue F and EN 13th Street. The school zone speed limit will take effect when the speed limit sign blinks yellow.
David Adams, Taylor Elementary principal, thinks the best way to avoid the after-school traffic is to continue on Avenue F.
“Students need to know that EN 13th is a one-way street during peak rush hours,” Adams said. “Drivers can get stopped or stuck.”
In the past, ACU students have joined the students at Taylor Elementary in programs such as Wildcat Kids, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Treadaway Kids. The ACU Department of Education also brings students to the classrooms for reading and tutoring, as does the ACU baseball team.
Taylor Tucker, interior design major from San Antonio, helped mentor a student at Taylor Elementary through Big Brothers Big Sisters and enjoyed spending time with her “little.”
“It gave me the opportunity to have a little sister because I never had one,” Tucker said. “It gave me a great opportunity to create a relationship that I never would have had in my own family.”
Students should also know that the intramural fields on EN 13 Street are shared with Taylor Elementary during its school hours. ACU students are allowed to use the fields Monday through Friday beginning at 4 p.m.
