Decatur receives state funding for sidewalk project

Photo by Mike Eckels The next phase of the Highway 102 Sidewalk Project will begin at the corner of state Highway 102 and Bredehoeft Road (above). Once completed, Decatur will have a continuous sidewalk from Bredehoeft Road to the downtown area on Main Street.
Photo by Mike Eckels The next phase of the Highway 102 Sidewalk Project will begin at the corner of state Highway 102 and Bredehoeft Road (above). Once completed, Decatur will have a continuous sidewalk from Bredehoeft Road to the downtown area on Main Street.

DECATUR -- The city of Decatur received an early Christmas present, in the form of a check, from the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department to complete a sidewalk extension project in eastern Decatur.

The city received $130,144 from the 2015 Transportation Alternatives Program. City officials applied for the grant in early spring and received notification of the award Dec. 4. The grant will go toward the construction of a new section of sidewalk near Decatur Middle School.

The Highway 102 Sidewalk Project will begin at the entrance (first driveway) to Decatur Middle School and continue past the high school along the highway to Bredehoeft Rd. With the completion of this project, Decatur residents will have a continuous link to the downtown area on Main St.

"TAP is a federal-aid program established in 2013 that allows eligible sponsors to apply for funding to construct sidewalks and trails for pedestrians, bicyclists and other non-motorized forms of transportation, create systems that will provide safe routes for non-drivers (children, older adults and individuals with disabilities) or other similar activities," according to the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department. A total of $16 million was awarded to 71 projects.

"We will apply for this grant again next year," said Bob Tharp, Decatur mayor. "We plan on continuing the sidewalk from the downtown area to Veterans Park, provided our application is approved."

The final phase of the Highway 102 project is to build a sidewalk from Veterans Park to Decatur Northside Elementary, provided the funds are still available. Once completed, the city of Decatur will have a sidewalk that will link the elementary school to the high school.

General News on 12/30/2015