Resident asks for mid‑block crosswalk on Old Ridenhauer Road; mayor says RFP to install crosswalk is forthcoming

At the March 3 meeting, resident Gene Poyer of Walnut Trace Senior Living urged council to add a mid‑block crosswalk on Old Ridenhauer Road to connect the Walnut Trace property to an existing walking path on the road’s east side.

“Currently, there is no safe way for the residents or any pedestrian to cross Old Ridin Hour,” Poyer said, describing frequent vehicular speeds he estimated at 35 to 40 miles per hour and noting the senior community’s residents, parents and park users who cross the roadway.

Poyer asked the city to “visit the location, provide the necessary funding, and build this much needed crosswalk.” He noted a crosswalk exists roughly 500 feet south but said a sidewalk does not exist on the west side and that reaching the southern crosswalk is unsafe for some residents.

Mayor Chadwin responded during the meeting that staff have visited the location and that the city will be issuing a request for proposals to install a crosswalk at the site. “Coming soon to a neighborhood near you, we’ll be taking care of that,” the mayor said.

No formal council vote was recorded on the request during the meeting; the mayor’s remarks indicate the administration plans to pursue procurement to install a marked crossing.