The bridge that leads to the main entrance of MHS was roped off for the second morning in a row due to its slippery surface.
“The bridge had become very slippery with the cold/wet air so we are just being cautious so that no one falls,” Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said. “We are working with our facilities team and contractors to find a solution.”
Signs instruct students to go to the gym lobby entrance to access a temporary front desk there or to head to the Welcome Center across the covered bridge for visitors. Additionally, everyone is asked to not exit through the main doors, but to instead use the gym lobby.
Sophomore Principal Kyle Devine said the surface of the bridge isn’t losing its moisture due to the cold temperatures, and with additional gathering up of salt and dirt on the bridge, even if the bridge’s surface isn’t currently icy, it’s still slippery.
Prior to this school year, the surface of the bridge was a grittier concrete; however, it cracked more frequently. The entire bridge, which was original to the school, was removed and replaced this summer.
“We were never able to find a good surface that wasn’t cracking and causing other issues,” Devine said. “We would have different guests like elderly people walk across the bridge with walkers and it was dangerous for them because of the cracks.”
While the new bridge has fixed those cracks, it has introduced a new safety issue.
“With the rebuilding of the bridge, to try and improve the surface, the builders added a slip-proof coating on top, but in a way, it is sort of doing the opposite,” Devine said.
Devine said the administration is figuring out if they can get rugs or mats to temporarily cover the bridge until they find a more permanent solution.
“Right now we’re just looking at the logistics of how to get 2,400 people in and out of the building,” Devine said.
Ava Smith, junior, uses the bridge every morning to get to school after being dropped off.
“Getting to school this morning was more difficult than usual,” Smith said. “I walked all the way up to the bridge before realizing it was closed. It wasn’t too big of a deal, but it did mean I had to walk to the gym entrance which was annoying.”
Smith said the bridge has gotten worse since the rebuild.
“The slip-proof coating isn’t working,” Smith said. “I know several people who have almost fallen in a rush to get to school, myself included.”
In the long run, Smith said keeping the bridge closed off wouldn’t be an effective solution, however, using rugs or mats temporarily would be a good idea.
“The school does need to implement something legitimate, especially if it will need to be long term,” Smith said. “But honestly, anything to make it safer is improvement.”
