City Looks to Expand Sidewalks; Several Areas Being Studied

The City of Manassas is looking at areas that could benefit from its General Sidewalk Infill Initiative.

The City's Department of Public Works (DPW) announced the initiative in its spring/summer newsletter.

There are many areas in the city that do not have continuous sidewalks, requiring pedestrians to walk in the street or to follow paths created on gravel or grass.

The new initiative looks to address those areas so sidewalks are continuous throughout the city to improve pedestrian movement and safety throughout Manassas. 

Beginning in Fiscal Year 2013, there will be sidewalk construction along Godwin Drive near the Hastings Drive intersection. The on-going project was introduced in 2011 and will continue until Fiscal Year 2015, according to the newsletter.

According to Manassas City Public Works Assistant Director Nicholas Gardner,  it was the Godwin Drive/Hastings Drive project that prompted the department to look at other areas in the city for similar projects.

"Several streets in the city have sidewalks that just stop," Gardner said. "The project is in its infancy, but no particular area is off the map."

That's because most of the areas being looked at for the project can be completed within the existing right of way. Some of the areas currently being considered for sidewalk infill projects include:

• Liberia Avenue/Battery Heights Area

• Battle Street in Old Town

• Windsor Avenue off of Signal Hill Road

• Portner Avenue/Sudley Road Intersection

A Weems resident recently spoke out at a recent town hall meeting about the need for a sidewalk extension along Portner Avenue near Sudley Road. She said her family had just moved to a home on Weir Place and have to cut through the back of the Manassas Shopping Center to get to Old Town. She said a safer option would be to extend the sidewalk that currently exists along Portner all the way to Sudley Road, where there is a cross walk and traffic light.

Gardner said the DPW is interested in hearing from citizens about potential locations for the project. He said some locations will require the city acquire a right of way, but the plan is to put a little funding aside every year to complete the projects.

He can be reached at 703-257-8266, or just tell us in the comment section below.