Sidewalk improvement plan still on track

By Candace Sipos -- csipos@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- The city sidewalk improvements project that has been under way since August is still on track.

"We're just really looking forward to when it'll be done and we'll have a nice, finished product out there," said city engineer Kelly Henshaw.

Two of the four phases of the $2 million project -- Valley and Millwood avenues -- have been completed. Officials hope the entire project will be done around June.

Half of the funding is coming from the city, while the Virginia Department of Transportation is providing the other half, according to Joel Davis, public information officer for the city.

On Monday, the third section of the project will get under way, which will involve repairs to South Loudoun Street.
"It shouldn't impact traffic much," Henshaw said, noting that most of the work will be done outside of the travel lane. Workers will start where South Loudoun Street and Jubal Early Drive meet and head north toward James Street, then turn around and go back down the other side, she said.

The final section will be near Daniel Morgan Middle School. Workers will be repairing sidewalks along South Purcell Avenue from Jim Barnett Park to Woodstock Lane.
More so than traffic backups, residents probably will notice the inability to park along sections of that road.

"A lot of people park on the street," she said. "The impact will be the parking to the residents there."

Usually, the city inspector delivers notices to nearby residents in such situations when they will be unable to park near their homes, she said.

The entire project has been going well so far, she said.