The plan to extend Pat Station Road roughly three-fourths of a mile from Old West Point Road to the intersection of North Montgomery Street, Rockhill Road and Garrard Road was met with interest and some concern Monday during a public hearing at the Starkville Sportsplex.
The first phase of the project, estimated to cost $1.3 million, would see the construction of two 12-foot-wide vehicle lanes, curbs and gutters, and an 8-foot-wide concrete multi-use path on the north side of the road. The second phase could potentially include the construction of wider, four-lane boulevards at the intersections of Pat Station Road and Old West Point Road, and at the intersection of Pat Station Road and North Montgomery, Rockhill and Garrard roads. City officials also eventually hope to build a multi-use path on the south side of the road.
Resident Mary Bell was concerned because the construction of boulevards during the second phase of the project would mean work crews potentially could tear up newly paved roadway to realign the two intersections.
City Engineer Edward Kemp and fellow engineer Clyde Pritchard, who is working on the project, said only a “small section” of roadway would be torn up and repaved if and when the second phase of the project comes to fruition. It”s best in the short-term for the new two-lane roadway to line up with the existing intersections, then engineers can worry about the four-lane boulevards and realignments, Kemp said.
“It”s more important in the short-term to have those roads line up,” Kemp said.
Bell also wondered if the roughly $120,000 it will cost to construct the multi-use path could be used for existing projects in the city. The pathway along the new section of Pat Station could be added later, she said.
But the construction of the multi-use path/sidewalk along Pat Station Road is mandated by the city”s sidewalk ordinance, which requires sidewalks along all new sections of roadway. The path also is consistent with what the mayor and Board of Aldermen are trying to do throughout the city: Build new sidewalks to improve accessibility and recreation opportunities.
“I feel it”s good policy in the long run, by not cutting corners with new projects, 20 or 30 years from now you see the results and you won”t have the issues like Garrard with no sidewalk,” Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said. “If somebody had been paying attention 20 or 30 years ago with Garrard and sidewalk construction, we wouldn”t have this gap in the system right now. But you”ve got to fill the existing gaps, as well. There”s no question about it. The question then becomes, where do you have the resources?”
Ward 5 resident Robbie Coblentz asked if any plans are in the works to build sidewalks along Garrard Road, between North Jackson and North Montgomery streets. Coblentz works on North Jackson Street and sees a lot of foot traffic at the corner of North Jackson and Garrard Road.
“That section (of Garrard) between North Jackson and North Montgomery desperately needs a sidewalk, more so than this (Pat Station Road project) does, just because of the volume of traffic,” Coblentz said. “During the day you”ve got a lot of folks walking.”
“The folks who need sidewalks are the folks who are walking now, dangerously, on Jackson and Garrard,” Coblentz added later. “Those are the folks without transportation who need a sidewalk.”
But no official plans are in the works to build sidewalks on Garrard Road between North Montgomery and North Jackson, Kemp said. Plus, building sidewalks along Garrard would present “a lot of challenges,” Pritchard said, citing the topography and other factors.
The Pat Station Road project is being funded through the $3 million bond issues passed each of the past two years by the city”s Board of Aldermen.
Pritchard hopes the city can advertise the project by spring. He also estimated the first phase would take about nine months to complete.
No new traffic lights are planned at either end of the new roadway, but they could come in the future, Pritchard said. He plans to monitor traffic at the intersections.
“My gut feeling is this is going to be a well-traveled roadway,” Pritchard said.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.