Sidewalk installations aim to make student travel safer

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, May 14, 2019

LAPLACE — Construction and installation of sidewalks has started near LaPlace Elementary School and East St.  John Preparatory Academy as part of a Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant.

The $361,000 project, completely funded through the Department of Transportation and Development’s Safe Routes program, aims to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion around the identified schools, increase physical activity and improve health by making it easier for students to walk and bicycle to school.

“Hundreds of students will now have more opportunities to safely walk and bike to schools once the sidewalks are complete,” Parish President Natalie Robottom said. “I want to thank my team for their hard work on these projects and DOTD for allowing local governments to utilize planning assistance grants for additional infrastructure improvement projects to improve quality of life for our residents.”

The project involves construction of sidewalks, cross walks, signage and more.

At LaPlace Elementary, approximately 3000 linear feet of sidewalks will be placed along the canal bank between Carmel Valley Drive and Fairway Drive, allowing students to walk or ride their bikes to school from the nearby neighborhoods.

Residents in this area will begin to see construction around the Ridgefield Canal Bank in the near future.

For ESJ Preparatory, approximately 2200 linear feet of sidewalks will be placed from Airline Highway to the school, along Belle Pointe Boulevard and Ory Drive. This project will create a safe pedestrian connection from the neighborhoods to the school.

Construction is scheduled to be complete in 90 days. In addition to this project, installation of ADA compliant handicapped ramps, crosswalk markings, striping and speed limit signs are planned for Greenwood Drive, Evergreen Drive, Ridgefield Drive and Carrollwood Drive.

Educational days on biking and walking safely to school will be implemented as Walk/Bike to School Days.

For more information and photos, visit sjbparish.com.

— Submitted by St. John Communications