Pedestrians frequently use Nelson Avenue despite the lack of continuous sidewalks, relying on an informal shoulder path that becomes inaccessible in winter, pushing them into traffic alongside large commercial vehicles and other roadway hazards. This grant will support phase 1 of a new sidewalk, the development of engineered drawings.
Pedestrians regularly travel along Nelson Avenue between Broadway Street and 1st Street. While the streets intersecting Nelson Avenue have sidewalks, there is no continuous sidewalk connection until 4th Avenue, four blocks away. Nelson Avenue also serves as the main route to the commercial core, as well as the hospital, gas station, village office, and nearby residential areas. In addition to observed pedestrian use, a well-worn path along the shoulder shows how frequently people walk this corridor.
During winter, snow plowing creates windrows along the shoulder, blocking this informal path and forcing pedestrians into the vehicle travel lane. The presence of large commercial vehicles—such as logging and transport trucks—heightens the safety risk, as there is no physical or visual barrier separating pedestrians from traffic.Without maintenance of the roadway edge, pedestrians are further exposed to hazards such as slush, ice, and other slip risks.
The grant will fund the first phase, which includes developing an engineered design that meets accessibility requirements for submission to MoTT before proceeding to an open-bid construction contract administered by the Village.
