Alpine School District students return to class; City focuses on safe routes to school

Students across the Alpine School District return to classrooms this week, with some starting Tuesday, Aug. 12, and the rest joining them Wednesday, Aug. 13.

As families adjust to new routines, Eagle Mountain City is working to ensure students have safe routes to school despite ongoing construction in several areas.

Safe Routes to School is a national program that encourages communities to create safe, accessible walking and biking paths for students. In Eagle Mountain, that means paying close attention to active projects and making temporary accommodations to help children travel safely.

“We want our kids to get to and from school safely,” said Public Works Manager Zac Hilton. “Families have an expectation that their kids can get home safely, and that can be challenging in a city with significant infrastructure needs. We take safe walking routes very seriously and are doing what we can to accommodate them.”

One of the City’s key focus areas this week is the Lone Tree neighborhood, where a water line project has impacted pathways to Desert Sky Elementary, Frontier Middle School, and Cedar Valley High School.

Construction crews are working to fill trenches and level pathways in time for the first day of school. While the trails won’t be fully paved, completed sections will be road-based and safe to walk on. Any repaving work will take place when students are not present.

Until the water line between Lone Tree and Red Pine is finished, the safe route will detour through Red Pine. The City has also provided maps to help families navigate the changes.

Another active area is the intersection of Eagle Mountain Boulevard and Pony Express Parkway, where traffic signals will energize on Wednesday afternoon. This route is used by many Frontier Middle School and Cedar Valley High School students. The area will remain an active construction zone, but City staff will be on-site to guide students safely through.

The City is also watching closely as Sage Canyon Middle School opens its doors for the first time this year. Staff will monitor pedestrian traffic and make adjustments if needed to ensure safety.

Hilton emphasized that the start of school is a good time for drivers to slow down and be more aware of pedestrians.

“Traffic should slow down to accommodate the start of school. Leave early for work to accommodate the change in schedules,” he said.

For families, Hilton recommends walking younger students to school during the first few days.

“We know the start of school is stressful, and it’s helpful for parents to walk students, especially young ones, the first couple of days of class,” he said.

As construction continues throughout the city, Eagle Mountain will keep monitoring school routes and working with contractors to minimize impacts on students.