Residents ask Fort Thomas to speed up River Road pedestrian access before school starts

Residents in public comment said construction fencing near Army Motor Pool and other work around River Road have blocked traditional walking routes and risk children’s safety before the school year begins.

"We don't want kids going up River Road ... We need to get a pathway, and we need to get it soon," said Vicki Clements, who described grandparents and children unable to safely access the park and urged the city and state to provide a short walking path or lower speed limits.

City staff said they have walked the site with residents and contractors and that the contractor expects to place the roadway base in the next few weeks, which would allow a fenced walking path at minimum. Staff said they will consult with state transportation partners about pedestrian‑activated crossing devices and have asked a traffic analyst to study lowering the speed limit (a typical analysis takes three to four weeks).

Officials also discussed golf‑cart rules and whether local speed postings would enable certain neighborhoods to use carts more safely; staff clarified that state limits and local caps determine where carts may operate. Council and staff invited residents to schedule on‑site walkthroughs so staff can identify possible short‑term pedestrian routes that would not create construction‑liability issues for the contractor.

Next steps: staff will continue coordination with the contractor and the state, provide updates to residents, and complete the traffic‑speed analysis within the typical 3–4 week turnaround that staff described.