Rock Springs High School hosts its graduation ceremony on Saturday, and the Rock Springs Police Department is prepared for the increase in people, traffic, and parties.
A major concern surrounding this year’s ceremony is traffic. With construction on the bridge near the High School, traffic could be even more of a struggle for those attending graduation and for people who live near the high school.
“As we’ve seen already since the bridge has been closed, we have times that the traffic is really high” said Alison Deters, Public Information Officer for the Rock Springs Police Department. “And with the graduation, we’re going to have a lot of people coming to graduation that are in town and family and friends, obviously, traveling to Rock Springs for graduation.”
Deters said the Police Department will help direct traffic even more than they have in past years as a result of the construction. Officers will be directing traffic from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Officers will be located at the intersections of Virginia Street and James Drive, Edgar Street and Second Street, and James Drive and Cottonwood Drive.
The goal is to prevent delays and to help the flow of traffic near Rock Springs High School.
With the construction, the school district has planned Park and Ride shuttles from seven different locations to bring people to the ceremony. At each location, community members can park their car and board a bus to go to the high school.
Deters encourages people to utilize the Park and Ride shuttles when possible. She says the department is prepared, but they hope the shuttles will help to minimize traffic.
Shuttles will depart at 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 9:30am. There will be at least two return times of 11:45 and 12:30. If necessary, the district will run a third shuttle to each location.
Park and Ride locations include Northpark Elementary, Desert View Elementary, Walnut Elementary, Westridge Elementary, RSJHS/Overland/CAB, Catholic Parish Center (633 Bridger), and LDS Stake Center building (2055 Edgar St).
In addition to traffic control, Deters said extra patrols will take place Friday and Saturday nights with the specific purpose of preventing and stopping alcohol related offenses like underage drinking and driving while under the influence.
Rock Springs High School’s graduation ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 4 at the Rock Springs High School stadium.