Construction crews are racing to finish the new Captain Johnston Blakely Elementary School in time for it to open for school in the fall.

In a report to the Bainbridge Island School District this week, Tamela Van Winkle, the district’s director of facilities, operations and capital projects, noted that construction crews are continuing to work overtime and on the weekends to finish the job on time.

Van Winkle added the project team is “cautiously optimistic” it will be ready for a September opening.

Wet weather earlier this year posed significant problems for staying on schedule.

A new wrinkle is the upcoming painting of the Agate Pass Bridge.

The Washington State Department of Transportation has imposed weight limits on the bridge, which Van Winkle said has made it tough for the contractor hired to demolish the old Blakely school to bring heavy equipment to the school site.

The demolition contractor has been using two smaller excavators instead.

The first day of school is Sept. 4.