Plymouth invites the community to Open House for 36th Ave. project

Rdale district families, staff, and community members are invited to an open house hosted by the city of Plymouth to learn more about the upcoming 36th Avenue Rehabilitation Project, a major roadway improvement scheduled to begin in 2025. The project will impact key routes to Plymouth Middle School (PMS), Armstrong High School (AHS), FAIR School Pilgrim Lane, and, to a lesser extent, Zachary Lane Elementary School. (Learn more about the project.)

Open House Details:

• Date and Time: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Plymouth Community Center, 14800 34th Avenue
• Format: Open house (no formal presentation)
• Contact: connect with the city if you need additional information

This open house offers an opportunity for the school community to meet the project team, view the final plans, and ask questions. With the project construction expected to start in late April 2025 and conclude by November 2025, these upgrades will address longstanding pavement and traffic challenges along the busy stretch of 36th Avenue between Kilmer Lane and Zachary Lane.

Project Highlights:

• Improved Traffic Flow: The Kilmer Lane intersection will shift west to align with Lancaster Lane, and a new traffic signal will be installed. Additionally, the roadway near Pilgrim Lane and Lancaster Lane will be reconfigured to add left turn lanes and medians, supporting safer school access.
• Pedestrian Safety Enhancements: For students and community members walking near AHS and PMS, new flashing pedestrian beacons and median refuges will be installed at designated crossings.
• Trail Realignment: The 10-foot Basset Creek Regional Trail will be moved to the south side of 36th Avenue, while an 8-foot local trail will remain on the north side.

Specific Impacts to Plymouth Middle School (PMS)

Memorial Relocations: Prior to the start of construction in spring 2024, a memorial tree and two memorial boulders located on the PMS grounds will be carefully relocated to another on-site location. The district and project team will work to ensure the new location is meaningful and respectful.

Traffic Improvements: The planned changes to 36th Avenue are designed to significantly reduce vehicular congestion and improve traffic circulation for both bus and parent drop-off/pick-up zones at PMS. Key enhancements include:

• Dedicated Bus Area: Buses will have a separate circulation and load/unload area located to the north of the school.
• Parent Traffic Routing: Parent vehicles will route and stack along the west-south-east perimeter drive aisle, ensuring smoother flow and reduced conflict with buses.
• Improved Pedestrian Safety: These changes will create a safer environment for students walking, biking, or exiting vehicles, with more efficient transportation times for caregivers and bus operations.