News
Sidewalk Project Could be Coming to Opp
By Catalina Trivino
The city of Opp may be paving more sidewalks, making it safer for elementary students to walk and bike to school.
Right now, if students want to walk or bike to school, they have to make about a half mile trek through grass. But that may all change.
Soon, sidewalks may be added to North Maine Street. The city received a $156 thousand state grant through the Safe Routes to School Program. Next week, the city will vote on the length of the sidewalk and how much of the money they'll use. Assistant Superintendant of Opp City Schools, Emily Edgar, says she would like the new sidewalk to extend from Opp Elementary to Mizzel Memorial Hospital, where the current sidewalk comes to an end. "It would certainly create a more safe resource for them to walk to school. There's absolutely nothing but grassy area with a curb there now." Shirley Cauley, who lives on North Maine Street, is looking forward to the project. She says it's not just kids that will use the sidewalk. "There's a lot of older people that like to get out and walk around the block and they have to get out and walk into people's yards." But residents, like Shannon Messick, say she's dreading the congestion the construction would bring. "So we could go out the backway if they're not in one place... maybe they wouldn't be in the other if they're doing construction." City officials say they'll discuss construction dates next week. Another South Alabama city has qualified for the Safe Routes to School state grant. Mackenzie was awarded $150 thousand dollars for their sidewalk project.
