Some worry that a proposed underpass will go unused.
Although many west Columbia residents favor a recently approved plan to extend Chapel Hill Road, some worry that proposed features designed to keep pedestrians safe won’t be used.
The 4,700-foot extension, which would extend Chapel Hill Road from Scott Boulevard to Gillespie Bridge Road at a cost of $2.8 million, was approved by the City Council last week. Plans call for the road to bisect the Daniel Boone Little League Baseball Complex, which was used by more than 1,000 children between the ages of 5 and 14 last summer.
Pedestrian amenities planned for the extension include an 8-foot pedway along Chapel Hill and a pedestrian underpass just to the west of the future Chapel Hill-Scott Boulevard intersection. With the Stonecrest subdivision and the popular bicycle route of Gillespie Bridge Road to the south and little league fields to the east, the features are designed to keep pedestrians and cyclists out of harm’s way.
Residents at Tuesday’s council meeting said they favor the project, although not without some reservations.
“I just want to express my concern over all of the foot traffic by children that will be in the area of this street,” said Lori Hartman, who lives in Stonecrest subdivision to the south of the proposed extension.