Work on Richmond Hill’s sidewalks master plan will start later this month after city-council members Tuesday approved a bid of $385,863 to get the project under way.
Jerry D. Rushing Construction Company will do the work. Council earlier budgeted $400,000 in Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax money to fund construction of the sidewalks, which officials in recent years have called a priority after hearing from residents.
“It has been a long-term objective of the Richmond Hill City Council to improve the aesthetics of the city,” Mayor Pro Tem Russ Carpenter said. “By improving the walkability of our neighborhoods, we will begin to create a live-work-play community.”
Richmond Hill Mayor Harold Fowler said his concern has been kids’ safety, “however, walkable neighborhoods benefit all citizens. Residents in such neighborhoods tend to get more physical activity, businesses benefit from local customers and property values increase faster, and there is an enhanced sense of connection due to greater interaction among neighbors.”
The project will link Richmond Hill Plantation, Turtle Hill, Melrose, Cherokee, Brisbon Hall, Sterling Creek Plantation, Piercefield Forest, Main Street, Ashton Apartments, Plantation Apartments and other residential areas. It also will connect neighborhoods to schools, recreation areas “and other pedestrian destinations on Timber Trail, Harris Trail, (and highways) 144 and 17,” the city said.
Among the project’s plans are an 8-foot-wide sidewalk along Timber and Harris trails to connect ball fields at South Bryan County Recreation Department to Richmond Hill High School;  a 6-foot-wide sidewalk on Casey Drive to connect Piercefield Forest to Plantation Apartments; an 8-foot-wide concrete sidewalk on Harris Trail from Main Street to Highway 17; and an 8-foot-wide gravel path along Sterling Creek off Timber Trail, along with what the city is calling “associated grading and drainage improvements.”