T
he Town of Rainelle will being work on a new sidewalk project to run along Kanawha Avenue from Dogwood Lane at the Elementary School, west past Sumac Lane and Oak and Walnut Streets. This $230,000 project is part of the Division of Highways “Transportation Alternatives” grant program and part of the former “Safe Routes to School” program.
The project includes repairs and replacement of sides, curbs and installation of ADA compliant ramps along the sidewalk system to improve access to the school. Additionally a new crossing lane and light will be installed at Suman Lane. “We hope to improve the walkability of this area to the Rainelle Elementary School,” said Mayor Andrea Pendleton. “We have had this project in the planning for the past two years and wanted to complete the construction in conjunction with the opening of our new school.”
An additional component of this project is a Safe Routes to School educational program to provide educational literature and materials to the children on walking and bicycling safety. “We are grateful to the Division of Highways with the funding to help educate our children on proper safety procedures when walking to school, riding bicycles, or using sidewalks within our town,” Pendleton said.
The project began Wednesday, Mar. 23, and will take approximately two months to complete. Construction will begin from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with traffic along the work area being flagged. “We are working with the school and the contractors to ensure no interference with daily school drop off and pick up,” said. Pendleton. “We apologize for any inconvenience this project may cause, but we know that this will create a safe, walkable area for our citizens and especially for our children.”
The new sidewalk project is just one of several projects scheduled to begin in Rainelle. A recreation trail that will encircle the Greenbrier Hills Golf Course is currently under design approval. Two grants were received to begin the sidewalk replacement from 1st Street to 7th Streets along with lamppost installation. That project is also under design review. Two additional project have been applied for to continue the Kanawha Avenue sidewalk renovations from 7th to 12th Streets, and to provide sidewalk replacement in “mid-town” Rainelle along Nicholas Avenue, Locust Street and Sewell Street.
Also the town continues to work with the Greenbrier County Commission to secure the final 6.2 mile of rail line into Rainelle for inclusion in the Meadow River Rail Trail that will create a rail head in Rainelle.
