School sidewalk improvements promoted by David
June 01 ,2007
A step ahead for new walk
by Dan Crowley, Daily Hampshire Gazette
by Dan Crowley, Daily Hampshire Gazette
NORTHAMPTON - Students walking to JFK Middle School
will soon have a safer passage now that the city is
planning to install a half mile of sidewalk along
Bridge Road.
The Department of Public Work's streets division plans to install 2,500 feet of sidewalk along the north side of Bridge Road from the intersection of Grandview Street and Mountain Road to JFK Middle School later this year. The stretch has been identified as a high priority on the city's list of sidewalks that need repair or installation, according to Ward 4 City Councilor David J. Narkewicz, chairman of the Transportation and Parking Commission.
"There's been a concerted effort over the past several years to improve the sidewalks along Bridge Road to JFK," Narkewicz said.
He said the commission worked with school officials to develop the priority list.
"There's been a particular emphasis on trying to eliminate gaps in sidewalks for kids walking to public schools," he said. Schoolchildren who live within two miles of a school have to pay to use a school bus, and many, including JFK students, walk to school.
The sidewalk will provide a safer pedestrian connection from streets that branch off from Grandview Street, including Rick Drive, Claire Avenue, and Cloverdale, Harold and Carolyn streets.
Tom Smith, a DPW engineer, said next week's informational session will lay out the scope of the work and purpose of the sidewalk installation. He said the DPW is planning to install a 4-foot-wide, black-top sidewalk along the north side of Bridge Road beginning at a corner of Mountain Road and Grandview Street to the school. He said the work would involve a 7-foot encroachment from the street onto abutting properties. The sidewalk will not include curb work. Smith said the cost of the project has not yet been determined.
The DPW held an informational meeting about the plan at JFK Middle School earlier this week.
The Department of Public Work's streets division plans to install 2,500 feet of sidewalk along the north side of Bridge Road from the intersection of Grandview Street and Mountain Road to JFK Middle School later this year. The stretch has been identified as a high priority on the city's list of sidewalks that need repair or installation, according to Ward 4 City Councilor David J. Narkewicz, chairman of the Transportation and Parking Commission.
"There's been a concerted effort over the past several years to improve the sidewalks along Bridge Road to JFK," Narkewicz said.
He said the commission worked with school officials to develop the priority list.
"There's been a particular emphasis on trying to eliminate gaps in sidewalks for kids walking to public schools," he said. Schoolchildren who live within two miles of a school have to pay to use a school bus, and many, including JFK students, walk to school.
The sidewalk will provide a safer pedestrian connection from streets that branch off from Grandview Street, including Rick Drive, Claire Avenue, and Cloverdale, Harold and Carolyn streets.
Tom Smith, a DPW engineer, said next week's informational session will lay out the scope of the work and purpose of the sidewalk installation. He said the DPW is planning to install a 4-foot-wide, black-top sidewalk along the north side of Bridge Road beginning at a corner of Mountain Road and Grandview Street to the school. He said the work would involve a 7-foot encroachment from the street onto abutting properties. The sidewalk will not include curb work. Smith said the cost of the project has not yet been determined.
The DPW held an informational meeting about the plan at JFK Middle School earlier this week.