District 1 does not plan to rush into buying a controversial middle school site.

The district will not buy the 61.9 acres before a traffic engineer analyzes the site on heavily traveled Old Cherokee Road.

Spokesperson Mary Beth Hill said a traffic engineer has been hired for recommendations on how congestion might be eased on the “northern bypass” site.

The Department of Transportation reported 10,000 cars use Old Cherokee Road 5 days a week.

The district needs a site for a new Lexington Middle School for 1,000 students starting in August 2021.

Lexington Mayor Steve MacDougall said the proposed site at Old Cherokee Road and Cherokee Trail is better than the current site on SC 6 and US 378.

“The traffic study will tell us what we need to do so that we don’t have a safety or traffic concern,” he said.

“The key is to make sure that the road is improved before the school opens.”

Hill said, “As part of our due diligence, the district will conduct a traffic impact study and make any necessary improvements that are identified and required by SC Department of Transportation guidelines.”

Hill said the traffic study’s cost is not yet known.

“We are still working with SCDOT to identify the scope of the traffic impact analysis. Once we settle that, the engineer can give us a price.”

Board member Jada Garris who voted against the proposed site on congested Old Cherokee Road said the district usually improves the site entrances and exits only around a school.

What will be done about traffic problems the new school will create has not been discussed, she said.

Hill said the current middle school can not meet requirements since Dreher Street will be closed and access will be from a redirected Harmon Street and US 378 and SC 6.