When Shepard High School students arrive for the first day of school Aug. 12, they’ll see signs of progress — including a $19 million fieldhouse project that’s already reshaping how traffic flows on campus.
The school, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., has closed its North Drive for the 2025-26 school year to make room for construction. All traffic will now enter and exit from the South Drive, changing drop-off and pick-up routines for families and student drivers.
“This closure will likely cause significant congestion, particularly during morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal,” Principal Timothy Baker said. “Having only one access point will prove challenging.”
The fieldhouse, designed by JP Architects Ltd., represents a major investment in the future of physical education, athletics and community engagement. When completed in August 2026, the Shepard Fieldhouse will offer 23,500 square feet of indoor space designed for flexibility, function and year-round use.
The biggest crunch in the new traffic pattern is expected at dismissal, when 21 after-school buses will line up in the West parking lot between 2:45 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. During that time, the lot will be closed to cars, and drivers heading south on Ridgeland Avenue won’t be able to turn left onto campus.
Parents who once used the West lot for pickups will now need to follow the same pattern as morning drop-off to reach the East lot.
Baker said the plan was developed with input from the school’s administrative team, security staff, Illinois School Bus, Alpha School Bus, Palos Heights police and the Cook County Sheriff’s Department. On Aug. 8, bus companies brought all 21 buses to campus for a practice run.
“We are so thankful for their cooperation,” Baker said. “It helped us solidify the logistics for our dismissal procedures.”
The restrictions will stay in place through the school year. Roughly 900 students who drive or get dropped off daily will be affected.
The school is warning nearby residents and commuters to expect traffic backups on Ridgeland Avenue between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., and again between 3 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, the morning crunch will hit between 8:45 a.m. and 9:40 a.m.
Baker said the goal is to keep students safe and traffic moving as smoothly as possible during the construction. “While we are committed to making these procedures as smooth as possible, there is always the potential for congestion,” he said.
