The commute to and from Langley can already messy and tedious enough, but now students are dealing with an added inconvenience: substantial construction.

If you have to take Georgetown Pike in the morning on your way to school, you’ve seen it, the monstrous construction site less than a block away from Langley with earth-movers gradually flattening an entire hill.

The new development, which will feature 12 new homes, is being built on the site of what was once “Langley Farm” which was owned by General William Mackall, who fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War. The development is being named “Mackall Farms” after Gen. Mackall.

Currently, construction crews are in the process of leveling the tree-covered hill that “Langley Farm” once was built on.

Some Langley students are concerned that the heavy construction on Mackall Farms could affect their daily commute. “The construction may become obstructive for people going to and from school,” said sophomore Leah Carmichael.

“I really hope it doesn’t affect the commute to Langley. I live pretty far away from the school, about 45 minutes, mostly because of traffic, so a huge construction project is really bad for students in Great Falls,” said sophomore Natalie Harris.

However, Langley Principal Mr. Matthew Ragone does not think that the construction site will affect Langley or the safety of students. “The construction crew must follow safety regulations plus the sidewalk where the students run is on the other side of the road,” said Mr. Ragone.

“Students and faculty have to be alert regardless, especially because the construction hazard signs are up due to regulation. Students just have to be careful as usual and to take care of themselves and others around them,” said Mr. Ragone.

Not all students are concerned with the construction though. “I think it’s good they’re building more houses closer to Langley because it’s convenient for students,” said Sophomore Morgann Tucker.

Some students are also worried about the effects the construction may have on the local environment.

“Georgetown Pike may be a major road, but the area around it is really great and filed with wildlife so leveling the hill in such a beautiful area is really a shame and can’t be good for the environment,” said Harris.

“I think that on one hand, it is beneficial because living close to Langley is so convenient and is a huge timesaver, but leveling a whole forest is upsetting because it takes away from one of the greatest parts of this area–the nature,” said senior Rosie Mahoney.

Sophomore Arianna Afsari added, “I don’t like construction projects overall cause of the harm to the environment, but I really think that the traffic for students will become even worse than it already is.”

Reporters Cayhan Movaghari and Alex de Thier contributed to this article

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Photos courtesy of yeonasandellis.com and Google Earth