Sidewalk project underway in Sikeston

SIKESTON Mo. (KBSI) – City Hall officials are on a mission to create a more walkable city and a safer route for students.

Jay Lancaster is Director of Public Works for the City of Sikeston, and he says about a year or two ago, it came to the city’s attention that the students of Sikeston Jr. High didn’t have a proper path to walk home.

“Sikeston has been recognized and working hard on making our city more walkable and bikeable. Especially for school students.” Said Lancaster. “So, many of them would congregate in groups, walking down Northwest Street, and we noticed that need.”

The project received grant funding from the Transportation Alternative Program for $200,000. 75% of the funding comes from state and federal sources, which is beneficial because construction wouldn’t effect local taxpayers. A sidewalk would be built down the east side of North West Street.

“That’s why we went ahead and applied for these funds, we felt like it was the best course of action to get a project going so we could get the kids on the sidewalk safely and out of people’s yards too.” Said Lancaster. It is a large project that will be broken up into three phases. With the first being finished almost two years ago.

According to Lancaster, the current project is considered the “middle phase”, which will connect Wakefield to Malone Avenue. Saying, “We’re excited to have as many as 4 sidewalk trail projects going all concurrently in different phases right now.”

In the meantime, the city is working on finishing final plans and will begin roadwork after getting all approvals from MoDot and the federal highway.

“At the same time, we’re also working on other projects that this will connect up to with our rail trail.” Said Lancaster.

Construction on the sidewalks will be set to begin this year.