Council to vote next week on $1.04M Old Bluff Highway resurfacing plan with a shared pedestrian/cycle lane

Councilmember Michael (public-works lead in discussion) told the Blufftown Council that engineers have presented a plan to resurface and widen a portion of the Old Bluff Highway by about six feet on one side to accommodate a shared pedestrian and cyclist lane, with an estimated price tag discussed in the meeting of about $1,041,000.

Michael framed the proposal as a resurfacing-ready project that could be packaged for funding: "The roadway would be expanded by about 6 feet to pave portion to accommodate pedestrian cyclists," he said, and added the engineers have asked whether the council wants to proceed so the design can be finalized for funding applications.

Council members debated design choices. Some favored a protected, delineated lane using paint and flexible delineators or plastic curb separators; others cautioned ADA/grade constraints and noted that building a separate pathway could require different design and funding. An active-transportation committee member suggested involving that committee and the engineers to produce an ADA-compliant design before construction.

Why it matters: the project addresses pedestrian and cyclist safety along a corridor with motels and restaurants that draw foot and vehicle traffic. Council members raised trade-offs between doing a single-phase resurfacing (with added lane width) versus planning a longer-term reconfiguration that could shift the roadway and parking to one side.

Next steps: Michael asked the council for a clear direction; the chair said the item will appear on next week's agenda for a formal vote so design and funding efforts can proceed. Nelson noted that the engineering package is at a stage suitable for seeking funding and that the council can use grants to cover costs if the town does not carry the full expense.