State steps up for Yorkville sidewalks
By Steve Lord slord@stmedianetwork April 30, 2012 6:38PM
Updated: June 4, 2012 10:46AM
YORKVILLE — The city will get $280,000 from the state to build sidewalks in several older parts of town.
The money is part of the Safe Routes to Schools program, and is designed to make walking to school safer for students.
In January, the state notified the city it would provide $231,000 to build 5-foot-wide sidewalks at 16 locations. But that size sidewalk would have cost much more than the $231,000 from the state, so city officials asked if they could get more money, and build smaller 4-foot-wide sidewalks.
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently responded that it could provide as much as $280,000 for the sidewalks.
Instead of the original 16 locations planned for sidewalks, the city will build at nine locations.
They are North State, Morgan, West Washington, West Orange, Adrian, Dolph, Heustis, East Washington and Mill.
Alderman Larry Kot, 2nd Ward, who represents that area, suggested the city hold an informational public hearing before construction to explain what is going to happen in front of their houses.
“A lot of these are going to be in areas where they’ve never had sidewalks before,” he said.
