Sidewalk projects on tap for Columbia

COLUMBIA — Columbia pedestrians will see construction on several new sidewalks in the city because of action taken Monday. 

The City Council approved variances for one sidewalk construction project that will accompany recent upgrades to Scott Boulevard in southwest Columbia. 

Scott Boulevard was widened this spring to four lanes; a center median was added. 

The council approved the following conditions for construction near the Copperstone Subdivision: 

• A sidewalk will not be required along a 120-foot portion of the east side of Scott Boulevard crossing Mill Creek as long as an eight-foot pedway path is constructed through the interior of the site. 

• The developer must reimburse the city $20,000 by Dec. 4, 2010, for constructing the internal bridge over Mill Creek. 

• Sidewalks will be constructed along both sides of Stone Grove Court by Dec. 4, 2010. 

• The developer will grant temporary construction easements free of charge to the city as needed to complete further upgrades to Scott Boulevard.   

• No later than Dec. 4, 2010, the developer will reimburse the city $25,000 for constructing a sidewalk along 1,881-feet of Scott Boulevard.

• The developer will design and construct a low-water crossing in Mill Creek, pay for proper inspection and maintenance of the crossing and construct a pedway to connect it.

Also on Monday, the City Council unanimously approved using federal stimulus funding for improvements to sidewalks on the east sides of Walnut, Anthony and Paquin streets east of MU. 

Improvements include smoothing bumps and adding ramps to sidewalks in the area in order to better comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

The project is to be funded with more than $195,000 in stimulus funds through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; the city’s Community Development Block Grant Program would contribute roughly $269,000 to the undertaking. 

One other sidewalk project to receive council consideration was the construction of a sidewalk/pedway along the north side of Stadium Boulevard from Providence Road to College Avenue. It received a first reading Monday. The council is calling for bids for the project through the city’s Purchasing Division. Construction has previously been estimated to cost $726,000.