Work to begin Monday on Nelson Road walking path
No path or sidewalk currently exists along Nelson Road, which caused parents of students that walk to the nearby Groff Elementary campus to voice concerns. The city will begin construction of a path early next week that will be completed shortly after the schoolyear begins.
CHARLES H. FEATHERSTONE/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
MOSES LAKE — Work is set to begin Monday on the dedicated path along Nelson Road intended to make it easier for children to walk to and from Groff Elementary School, according to Moses Lake City Engineer Ricard Law.
Speaking at the end of a regular meeting of the Moses Lake City Council on Tuesday, Law said bids for the project — which is being jointly paid for by the city and the Moses Lake School District — came in a little higher than anticipated.
“JM Pacific was the low bidder at right around $90,000,” Law said, noting the bid was higher than original estimates for the project.
Law said, however, that both the city and the school district agreed to contribute $50,000 each to cover the costs of the project, and when the council approved construction earlier this summer, council members approved spending $100,000 on the walking path.
It should take about two weeks to complete construction of the walking path, Law said, which means it won’t be finished until after school starts. The council voted to create the walking path after residents in the area expressed concern there was no safe way for students to walk along Nelson Road itself to Groff Elementary School because Nelson Road does not have a sidewalk from Lakeland Drive to Moses Lake Avenue.
“We are looking forward to having that work done,” Law said.
Council members expressed appreciation for Law's efforts to move the project forward.
“Thank you for being on this,” Council Member Judy Madewell told Law. “It will be great for parents and students.”
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.