Stowers Elementary is one of four local schools with sidewalks that will receive attention from Hillsborough County this fall.
The County is planning to start construction on a section of sidewalk on the west side of Boyette Rd. from Gentle Wood Ave. to south of Barrington Stowers Dr. shortly after students return to school from summer break. The project is expected to cost $128,780.
“The new sidewalk section will make it safer for children to walk and bike to school,” said Kara Walker, Hillsborough County Senior Media Relations Strategist.
In addition to the Stowers sidewalk, projects are also slated to take place around Summerfield Elementary in Riverview, Cypress Creek Elementary in Ruskin and Eisenhower Middle School in Gibsonton, all with the goal of making student’s journeys to school safer and more enjoyable.
Construction for all the projects is expected to be complete by early 2019.
“The County worked with the schools to identify these specific locations,” said Walker.
Funding for the projects, totalling more than $800,000, comes from the Florida Department of Transportation’s Local Agency Program (LAP), which facilitates federally funded transportation-related projects in Hillsborough County.
“The LAP extends federal aid for use on local roads that are not part of the state highway system, while letting local governments maintain the transportation priorities and objectives of their own agency,” said Walker.
According to Walker, the types of projects eligible for LAP include safety projects, resurfacing projects, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, traffic calming projects, bridges and tunnels and infrastructure-based Intelligent Transportation System projects.
Residents who feel a sidewalk in their area needs attention should visit www.hcflgov.net/AtYourService and expect a follow-up from a Hillsborough County Public Works representative.
For more information on the projects, visit www.hcflgov.org.
