Sidewalks are showing up from Meadowbrook to Ettrick in the south east of Chesterfield. A new pedestrian walk was recently completed on Cogbill Road from Meadowbrook High School west to Iron Bridge Road.
The two-tenths-of-a-mile project also included landscaping with crepe myrtles and period streetlights as well as curb and gutter on about half the project.
“Many people have been asking for pedestrian accommodations on Cogbill,” said Jesse Smith, director of transportation for Chesterfield County. The last section of sidewalk completed the county’s plan for sidewalks between Ironbridge and Hopkins roads, according to Smith.
“I am excited to say that the project has been well received by the community and has met my expectations,” said Dale District Supervisor Jim Holland. “Our students and citizens can walk from Iron Bridge Road to Meadowbrook High, Meadowdale Library and Hopkins Elementary school ‘safely.’”
Smith said sidewalks are not cheap, especially in revitalization areas or where the development has been in place of a number of years. The Cogbill project was funded with Revenue Sharing ($500,000) and Enhancement ($475,000) dollars, now Transportation Alternatives, funds.
Costs on projects like Cogbill rise as contractors run into unknown issues arising out of the age of the area. Drainage may have to be altered, power poles moved or property purchased.
The Cogbill project didn’t require additional work other than drainage issues which required curb and gutter. The sidewalk was design to run behind the road ditch and power poles in one section which held down costs.
While the sidewalk in front of Meadowbrook High School has been in place for years, a new sidewalk was constructed along Chesterwood Drive from the Meadowdale Library to Cogbill Road and was completed in 2008. The section of sidewalk that connected the existing high school sidewalk to the Chesterwood sidewalk was finished just last year.
“The community as a whole was been very supportive of this additional infrastructure. As with any project, funding is always the most difficult part. Both Mr. Holland and his predecessor, the late Kelly Miller, supported funding for these projects, which was key to their completion,” Smith said.
“As supervisor, I will continue pursue and provide the very best in infrastructure and facilities for all Dale District residents,” said Holland.
