As John and Lakeisha Randle walked along the side of Louisville Street Monday afternoon, traffic passed by just feet from where the duo stepped diligently over gravel, grass patches and driveways.
Minutes later, when Starkville High School dismissed for the day, vehicles backed up on Louisville Street as buses dropped off students and motorists attempted to turn left from the two-lane roadway into nearby neighborhoods and businesses. High school students walked along the sides of Louisville Street and a handful of nearby residents did the same.
Relief is on the way, however, for pedestrians and drivers who inch along Louisville Street every day.
By this time next year, Louisville Street could be widened between Yellow Jacket Drive and Lynn Lane, from two lanes to three. A sidewalk and/or bicycle lane also is in the works, although details have not yet been finalized.
The city will hold a public meeting Sept. 28 at the Sportsplex on Lynn Lane to give citizens a chance to provide input on the proposed Louisville Street road and pedestrian improvements. City Engineer Edward Kemp hopes construction will begin as early as next summer.
“We have several different combinations possible with bike lanes and sidewalks, so we”re just seeking input from the public at this time to see what they prefer,” Kemp said.
Funding for the project will come from the Mississippi Department of Transportation”s Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and through city bond money, Kemp said. The total cost of the project has not yet been finalized.
Portions of Louisville Street, from Highway 12 to Yellow Jacket Drive and from Lynn Lane to Academy Road, already contain three lanes. With the proposed improvements, Louisville Street would be three lanes from Highway 12 to Academy Road.
Additionally, with the construction of a new multi-use path along Lynn Lane planned for the future, the sidewalk and/or bicycle lane along Louisville Street would provide a new link to downtown Starkville for residents on the south side of town, Kemp said. Sidewalks already exist along Louisville Street from Yellow Jacket Drive north to Highway 12, and from Highway 12 north to Greensboro Street and downtown.
For the Randles and dozens of other pedestrians who walk along Louisville Street every day, a new sidewalk would be a welcome addition.
“It will be a lot more safe,” Lakeisha Randle said.
Carnice Evans, owner of Carnice”s Thrift Shop on Louisville Street, also felt the sidewalk would help area pedestrians.
“It”s a nice thing to do,” Evans said.
The meeting on Sept. 28 will take place in the Sportsplex boardroom at 5:30 p.m. There will be a brief presentation on the project, and citizens then will have an opportunity to provide input on project design and sidewalk location. The Sportsplex is located at 405 Lynn Lane.
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