The path is included in the 2020 Fairfield Connects master plan and was favored by most residents who completed a survey on the plan.
“People were interested in this. This (project) came to the top of the wish list,’’ said Nick Dill, Fairfield’s city engineer.
The Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments awarded Fairfield the grant, which mandates the city pay 30 percent of the construction costs. Fairfield is also responsible for right-of-way acquisition, engineering, and any costs related to utilities.
The construction costs are estimated at $2.5 million, but could increase, depending on the final design and timeline.
“The multi-use path is a significant step forward in connecting pedestrians along the Pleasant Avenue corridor to the Town Center, Harbin Park and points in between,” said Ben Mann, the city’s public works director.
“Multi-use paths give equal priority to cyclists and pedestrians and provide safe separation from the main roadway for non-motorized transportation.”
This portion of path would be built on the west side of Pleasant Avenue between Wessel Drive and Hunter Road – about 6,800 feet. Fairfield Connects call for a shared use path to continue south to John Gray Road at the southern city limit on Pleasant Avenue (U.S. 127).
Signalized crossings would be installed at Wessel Drive, Evalie Drive, Resor Road and Hunter Road.
“This will connect all of our residents from the southernmost subdivisions on the west side of Pleasant to the Town Center,’’ Dill said. “It will be a big improvement for them.”
As part of the grant process, the city is asking for input from the public for this part of the path. Questions, comments, or concerns about the social, environmental, economic impact, or other input on the project can be logged at www.fairfield-city.org/FormCenter/Public-Works-9/Pleasant-Ave-SharedUse-Path-114 or emailed to ndill@fairfield-city.org.