Students, parents and teachers at South Park Elementary will return in two weeks and a day to smoother-flowing traffic due to some last-minute work.

Crews are working on adding new turn lanes at the school at 6530 Nailor Road and the work will continue during the next two weeks, said District 5 Supervisor Richard George.

The goal is to keep cars moving during peak morning and afternoon hours. Vehicles are sometimes backed up to Halls Ferry Road, George said.

Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent James Price said the project has been three years in the making. He described the project as &#8220pretty extensive,” as it required the relocation of water and other utility lines.

The district deeded a small portion of school property to the county to allow the project to be competed. The $153,000 project is being handled by Dirt Works Inc. and ABMB Engineers Inc., both of Vicksburg.

The district had originally asked the county to make a few minor improvements, but the county decided that the project &#8220needed to be done right,” Price said.

Besides improving access to and from the school, Price said the work will also enhance safety.

Before, &#8220we had parents who would pull off on the side of the road and walk their children to the building,” to avoid being stuck in the backup, thus creating another hazard, he said.

The added lanes will keep traffic moving, said Price.

George said while the work won’t completely alleviate the traffic congestion, &#8220It’s the best that we can do with the right of way and the area that we have. We’re trying to remedy it as best we can.”

George and Price said rain set the project a bit behind schedule, but weather permitting, the work should be completed by the first day of school on Aug. 8.

Also under way at the school is the removal of some blacktop at the rear of the school to improve drainage.