If you've traveled down Highway 59 recently, you may have noticed construction taking place at Robertsdale High School. This is just one of the current Baldwin County Public Schools capital projects focused on athletic and fine arts enhancement.

Under this initiative, Robertsdale is developing an 11,000-square-foot gym ($3.3 million), a 10,135-square-foot multipurpose athletic training facility ($2.63 million) and a 10,000-square-foot band room expansion ($3 million) on campus. The improvements will cost roughly $9.08 million, including the new weight equipment being provided to the athletic department. Parking lots are not included in these cost estimates, and BCPS also notes that budgets are simply a conservative estimate and subject to change.

Baldwin County, Daphne, Elberta, Fairhope, Foley and Spanish Fort high schools are each also receiving similar upgrades through these efforts, which were presented to the board and made public last year, according to documents provided by the district and Chasity Riddick, Baldwin County Public Schools communications coordinator. The county's total cost estimate for the projects sits at $56,236,928, excluding professional design fees. Countywide athletic enhancement is $42,236,928 of the total, followed by instructional band/music room expansions ($9 million) and additional campus reconfigurations ($6 million).

Robertsdale expects to have upwards of 200-250 band members next year, many of who are coming from the middle school, according to Assistant Principal Mark Glassford. As program involvement continues to increase, Glassford said they're having trouble getting everyone in the classroom effectively, highlighting the need for these improvements.

Previously on the athletic front, sports outside of football didn't exactly have specific areas dedicated to them either. This is set to change with the incoming athletic training facility featuring brand new weight rooms, training rooms, locker rooms and offices for non-football sports. In the meantime, access to the school's front entrance and bus parking areas have been compromised along with much of the campus.

"If there's any sliver of grass or open area, cars are everywhere," Glassford joked. "We don't have a lot of room. We have one way in and one way out. It's difficult to get around campus anyway. Our administrative team had to get together and develop a plan for our buses to roll through in waves. We have over 1,500 kids. Student parking, parent pickups. It's a great community here. The people are outstanding, and they understand. Everyone has been very patient and flexible, but it has been a disruption."

Robertsdale officials expect construction to be completed following the school year's end, barring any issues with weather, materials or other unforeseen obstacles.

"It's going to look great," Glassford said. "I think the students are going to be exceptionally happy with it. It will allow us to properly serve as many students as we possibly can. It's going to be exciting."