ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The city has been busy building sidewalks — several projects have been finished, several are in progress and several more are in the works, including one in front of a local school.
A recent progress report from the city said, “Sidewalks are one way to promote pedestrian safety, encourage walking and create more connected, accessible spaces for everyone.”
Downtown projects in the works include sidewalk replacements for Patton Avenue between Asheland and Coxe avenues. Further west on Patton Avenue, the sidewalk is being replaced as part of the Carter-Ann-Patton Stormwater project.
In the Southside and South French Broad area, pedestrian ramps are being replaced and crosswalks painted at 13 intersections, improving accessibility and pedestrian mobility throughout the neighborhood.
One project that is looming will put a sidewalk on Johnston Boulevard from Patton Avenue to Johnston Elementary School. The plan is to lay about 1 mile of 6-foot-wide sidewalk, including accessible ramps, crosswalks and drainage.
The Johnston Boulevard sidewalk was one of several transportation projects prioritized by city residents during public outreach for the 2016 bond referendum, Capital Management Communications Specialist Meredith Friedheim said.
“The next milestone for this project is for the construction contract to go out to bid, which we are working towards right now,” Friedheim said. “Construction is anticipated to start this fall. Once construction starts, we estimate the project will take 18 months to complete. The budget for this project is $3,340,520.”
Recently completed sidewalk projects include:
- Linwood Crump Shiloh Community Center: The installation of new sidewalk, accessible ramps and crosswalks enhances pedestrian safety along Brooklyn Road and Hampton Street and connects the Community Center to the Shiloh Community Garden.
- New Leicester Highway: Pedestrians can now enjoy 2.3 miles of seamless connection on New Leicester Highway from Patton Avenue to Old County Home Road.
- Onteora Boulevard: Starting at Raleigh Road and ending at Lincoln Avenue, this new 0.4 mile sidewalk provides connectivity to the existing sidewalk that leads to Oakley Elementary School and Fairview Road. Much-needed stormwater utility work was completed in conjunction with the sidewalk construction, as well as resurfacing of the street in the project area.
- Vermont Avenue: Existing dilapidated sidewalks on both sides of the street were replaced with a focus on meeting ADA standards, preserving existing street trees where possible and replanting new trees in grass buffer strips.
Sidewalk projects in progress (to be completed this year):
- Fairview Road: Upgrades are being made to 35 pedestrian ramps on the Fairview Road sidewalk to increase user accessibility. Stormwater utility work and street resurfacing on Fairview Road are also included in this project.
- Patton Avenue: This project includes sidewalk replacements Patton Avenue downtown between Asheland Avenue and Coxe Avenue, making important improvements to pedestrian safety and accessibility under ADA guidelines. Further west on Patton Avenue additional sidewalk is being replaced as part of the Carter-Ann-Patton Stormwater project.
- Southside and South French Broad area: Pedestrian ramps are being replaced and crosswalks painted at 13 intersections, improving accessibility and pedestrian mobility throughout the neighborhood.
Sidewalk projects to be started soon:
- Johnston Boulevard: This project includes the construction of approximately 1 mile of new six-foot-wide sidewalk, including accessible ramps, crosswalks and drainage, along Johnston Boulevard from Patton Avenue to Johnston Elementary School.
- New Haw Creek Road: This project includes the construction of approximately 0.8 miles of new 6-foot-wide sidewalk, including accessible ramps, crosswalks and drainage, along New Haw Creek Road from Beverly Road to Bell Road.
Narrow rights-of-way, easement acquisitions, utility relocations, weather and complicated funding mechanisms can impact the timeline for sidewalk projects, the progress report said.
“Changes to project timelines can be frustrating for both our project teams and for the community. We are appreciative of the community’s patience and collaboration as we continue to improve Asheville’s public infrastructure,” the report said.