Sheffield - A project that will extend the sidewalk along portions of South Atlanta Avenue in southeast Sheffield is expected to be sent out for bids in early March.
Sheffield City Council members Monday approved the preliminary and construction engineering portions of the project, which is part of the Safe Routes to School program.

Safe Routes to School is a federal program that provides funding for sidewalk improvement projects that encourage students to walk or bike to school.
The Sheffield project is funded by a $148,580 grant from the Federal Highway Administration and does not require a local match.

“This is just the initial agreement for the project,” City Clerk Clayton Kelly said.
Clint Baker, an engineer in the preconstruction office of the Shoals division of the Alabama Department of Transportation, said the project’s engineering plans are being reviewed at the department’s Montgomery headquarters.
Baler said it’s possible the plans could be sent back to the Tuscumbia office for minor changes.

“They will let me know about any issues they find,” he said.
He said the plans have already gone through one review and one set of changes at the local level.

The project involves adding a sidewalk to South Atlanta Avenue from East 18th to East 15th streets and on East 17th Street from South Atlanta Avenue to Eighth Avenue.

Baker said the sidewalks will connect to the existing sidewalk on the southeast end of the project. The sidewalk will be built on the east side of South Atlanta Avenue from East 18th Street to McTyre Street, where it will cross the street and proceed south on the west side of South Atlanta Avenue from McTyre to East 15th Street, Baker said.

A second sidewalk will be built on the south side of East 17th Street from South Atlanta Avenue to East Eighth Avenue to the home of the city’s Head Start program, he said.

“We’ve been dealing with this, it seems like forever,” Mayor Ian Sanford said.
Sheffield has been trying to secure Safe Routes to School Funds since 2008. There were problems getting surveys to parents in time to file the application in 2008 and a 2009 application was denied.

Russ Corey can be reached at 256-740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.