Greenwich police officers made 33 traffic stops near schools on Thursday, Aug. 27, issuing 21 infractions and eight warnings as students arrived for Orientation Day.

The worst violation: a driver clocked at 55 mph in a 30 mph zone on East Putnam Avenue near Cardinal Stadium at about 9:15 a.m., according to the Greenwich Police Department.

The department's Traffic Section deployed to school areas across town as students and families navigated back-to-school routes on Orientation Day.

Friday, Aug. 28, marks the first official full day of classes for Greenwich Public Schools. The department said it will ramp up enforcement near schools across the community, with a focus on crosswalk and pedestrian safety during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal.

The department urged drivers to obey school-zone speed limits, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, stop for school buses displaying flashing red lights and stay alert for students walking and biking.

Parents and guardians were also asked to talk with children about crossing streets safely: use designated crosswalks, stop and look both ways, make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the roadway and avoid distractions like phones or headphones while walking near traffic.

North Street Bridge adds to mix

Drivers near North Street School face an additional factor. The North Street Bridge, closed since June 8, reopened Friday to alternating one-way traffic, according to Greenwich Time. The $4.25 million replacement project over West Brothers Brook will continue through spring 2027, with police or flaggers directing traffic as needed.

The bridge sits on a major arterial road less than a mile from North Street School. The Department of Public Works said motorists should expect delays and changing traffic patterns in the area.

Construction on the bridge is expected to wrap up in spring 2027, overlapping with the school year through its final months.