Hopkins: Reconstruction at KW, NCHS Progressing

Natrona County School District officials say multi-million dollar renovation and reconstruction efforts at Kelly Walsh High School and Natrona County High School are progressing.

District officials say the demolition of the old Kelly Walsh facility and construction of the new school at the site should be completed by 2017. District superintendent Steve Hopkins says current traffic issues near Kelly Walsh will be resolved before then.

“Second access to the additional parking lot has been approved by all of the parties concerned, and construction begins this week,” Hopkins said. “That’ll take some of the pressure off the neighborhood that felt the impact of that additional student traffic.”

Hopkins also says construction crews are making progress on the $14 million multi-use annex at Natrona County High School.

“That project is moving right along,” Hopkins said. “The main purpose of that building and the overall construction is that it creates an exit for portions of NCHS that will then be demolished and remodeled over a four-year phased reconstruction.”

Officials say the swing space annex will initially serve as temporary athletic and classroom space and should be completed by summer.

The annex is part of an over $100 million renovation at NCHS. Officials say construction and demolition efforts at Kelly Walsh will cost over $70 million.