WINTERSVILLE - The village soon will have 500 new feet of sidewalk installed on Fernwood Road, thanks to a grant from Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission and village government officials.
The sidewalk's construction began May 30 and should be finished by the end of June, according to Walt Ziemba, village administrator.
"This project is strictly on Fernwood Road," said Ziemba. "It's funded by Community Development Block Grant funds through the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission.
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PROJECT BEGINS — Fernwood Road is getting a new sidewalk, thanks to a grant from the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission and village government. Village officials hope the project to install a 500-foot section of sidewalk and new curbs is finished in the coming weeks. - Mark Miller
"The grant was for $48,000," continued Ziemba. "Any amount more than that the village picks up the difference. Right now we're at $52,000. It may be a little more than that. We anticipate we'll be done by June 22."
In addition to sidewalk construction, curbing and a small retaining wall will be installed, Ziemba said. The sidewalk will be handicap accessible, and cut-outs for residential driveways will be part of the project.
"There are only three driveways there, but there are cut-outs (constructed) for them," said the administrator.
Ziemba said Mayor Bob Gale led the project after citizens in the neighborhood asked that a sidewalk be established on that section of the road.
"We have some local residents walking that area," he said, adding others use motorized wheelchairs.
The new sidewalk will enable residents of the Meridian Greene apartment complex to walk Fernwood Road safely, he added.
"This was project-specific, although we are looking at this to be part of a fitness trail in the village," said Ziemba. "We're going to do some improvements at the village Municipal Building and put in a walking trail. This project was spearheaded by the mayor for the citizens of Meridian Greene."
The village also had to conduct an income survey of local residents to be eligible for the grant, and "council members themselves conducted the survey," Ziemba said.
Ziemba also thanked the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission and all involved to make the project a reality.
