An Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman says the ongoing Ohio 7/Interstate 77 interchange upgrade was designed to take school traffic into account.
Students in the Marietta district return to classes this week.
"ODOT actually chose the type of traffic maintenance to help with school traffic," David Rose, public information officer for ODOT District 10, said in an e-mail. "The lights are very well timed to get motorists through the short construction zone."
Still, Rose said, "we recommend motorists give themselves more time during heavy traffic hours such as early morning traffic and afternoon traffic."
Traffic is currently restricted to one lane each way on the $4.15 million project and is expected to stay that way through September.
Dave Davis, transportation, buildings and grounds manager for Marietta City Schools, said the district will be paying attention to the effects of the work on school bus travel, but he's not expecting significant delays.
"(Bus drivers) always leave a little bit earlier the first couple of days, and we'll evaluate that as time goes on," he said.
Adjustments can be made if needed, Davis said.
For parents taking children to school through that area, Davis recommends slowing down and staying aware of what's going on around them.
Over the past week, concrete crews were expected to finish paving the northbound driving lane on Ohio 7, Rose said. Paving on the passing lane should start this week.
The other major project going on, the City of Marietta's Gilman Avenue resurfacing and sidewalk installation, is also continuing this week, with more work on driveways and sidewalks. Asphalt is not expected to be laid until the middle of September.
