The Stanly County Schools facilities committee approved a plan Wednesday evening to create a four-lane extension for Millingport Elementary School that would help eliminate traffic congestion along N.C. Highway 73.

Todd Bowers, SCS director of facilities and maintenance, presented the committee with the plan.

The four-way extension would be added onto the current two-way road into the school and would cost approximately $60,000, much less than the committee members initially thought it would cost.

The development plan will get approved during a special called school board meeting Monday evening.

The committee also looked at the NCDOT’s plan to divert traffic at Richfield Elementary School by building a new two-way road which will loop behind the school. This will help alleviate traffic congestion along U.S. Highway 52.

Bowers said the new road will be equipped with speed bumps. A fence will be built separating the school’s playground from the road.

The total cost of the project is approximately $260,000 and NCDOT will fully fund it.