The Lexington County fire marshal has mandated safety changes at Congaree Elementary School.

That may cause a traffic backup each afternoon during student pickup time. South Congaree Police Chief Josh Shumpert said the fire marshal found it unsafe for 2 rows of vehicles to wait in the loop circling the school for student pick-ups.

Chief Shumpert said if both lanes are filled by waiting parents, emergency vehicles could not reach the school if necessary in the event of a fire, an alarm, or even a medical emergency.

“School District 2 has been given a deadline to change this,” Shumpert said. “It certainly won’t be a great change, but the fire marshal is doing his job to make sure that the students and faculty are safe.”

Shumpert said he expects Ramblin Road to back up in both directions as students are being picked up between 2 and 3 pm each school day.

“We are asking motorists to be patient and detour around those few blocks of Ramblin Road.”

Shumpert said he will have officers there.

Paul Kirby is editor of the Lexington Ledger.