HURRICANE, W.Va. (WCHS) — Progress is being made in the planning phase of the new Hurricane Middle School. The new building will replace the current school, which has been in use since the 1950s.

"It's been something that the school, the staff, the community has been very excited for quite some time," Hurricane Middle School Principal Eric Skolny said. "Things are starting to move forward and we're starting to see some progress. We're hoping to see some dirt moved in the near future."

The new school will sit right next to Hurricane High School on a 22-acre site. The project is being paid for by School Building Authority funds and a bond levy passed last year. The total estimated cost is around $75 million.

A traffic study is currently being conducted to get one step closer to an official design.

"To study the whole situation with that area in front of Hurricane High School and the new Hurricane Middle School should be completed by December," assistant superintendent for Administrative Services Bruce McGrew said.

McGrew said the study will determine how bus lanes and pickup lanes will be laid out. He said they're working with the Department of Highways and their architects to get the best possible outcome.

"The goal is to finalize the schematic design phase, which we're currently in," he said. "That will be submitted this month to the SBA. Ideally the design development submission will occur sometime in February."

Skolny said the area does tend to see congestion, especially after school.

"That's a huge part in being right there by the high school," he said. "There's going to be twice the traffic now up that way, but seeing the traffic here in the mornings to drop off and at the end of the day at dismissal, it's tricky with so many cars and buses and students coming in every day and leaving every day.

"That's a big piece that's being worked out and it's going to be wonderful."

The goal is for construction to begin in August 2026.