Wilmington City Council made progress on several large projects during a busy meeting on Tuesday, January 18, including the Hooker Road Multi-Use Path.
The path will provide a safe biking and walking connection between UNCW, the Cross-City Trail, and the bike lane on Wrightsville Avenue.
Council requested $2.4 million in federal funds from the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization with a $600,000 match from the city for the Hooker Road project.
The money will aso fund the Hinton Road Mutli-Use Path, and Wrightsville Avenue and Greenville Avenue intersection improvement projects.
Another way the city is improving pedestrian access is with sidewalk rehabilitation.
Council expanded its contract with JYMCO construction by more than $420.000 for general replacement and repair throughout the city, as well as specific work on Wayne Drive, Forest Hills Drive, and Chippenham Drive. This includes $100,000 to install flex pave at selected locations downtown where tree roots have damaged the sidewalk.
“There’s over 100 of those areas identified, so that’s the material that’s going to be used in those trip hazard zones where those metal grate tree wells are not working,” Fred Royal, the city’s stormwater manager, said during the Jan. 18 meeting.
Flex Pave will provide a safer walking surface and has been approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Council also appropriating funds for a construction project at Legion Stadium related to damage from Hurricane Florence.
“The project that we’re discussing is to repair damaged concrete and stucco located at the home bleachers, visitor bleachers, and the field house locker room of Legion Stadium,” said Christine Sims, buildings & facilities superintendent.
Completion of the project will provide safer, stabilized, and waterproof structures and allow the city to move forward with additional interior repairs.
For more on the Tuesday, Jan. 18 meeting, click here.
City Council will meet again on Feb.1 at 6:30 p.m.