Columbia council approves design work for West Broadway sidewalk; residents push for narrower option

The Columbia City Council on Monday authorized staff to proceed with final design and easement acquisition for a sidewalk improvement project along the south side of West Broadway between Maplewood Drive and West Boulevard, but debate at a public hearing showed clear differences between city standards and some residents' privacy and historic-preservation concerns.

Public Works Director Shane Creech told the council the project would construct about 2,100 feet of five-foot-wide concrete sidewalk, roughly 1,000 feet of new curb and gutter, and storm-inlet work; total cost was estimated at about $616,000 and the project will be funded up to 80% by a MoDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant with the city's capital-improvement sales tax funding the remainder. Construction is anticipated in 2026.

Residents who live on the south side of the roadway urged the council to reconsider a 5-foot standard in places where homes sit close to the street. Mitchell Moore, who…