City of Keller nears completion on $1.1 million safe-sidewalk project

Students of Keller ISD’s Willis Lane Elementary School and nearby residents will soon have additional routes for safe passage on city of Keller sidewalks.

The city is currently underway on a joint city, state and federal sidewalk project as part of the Texas Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program. The project aims to provide 10-foot-wide sidewalk trails along large portions of Whitley Road and Rapp Road, according to city officials.

The project began in September and will total 4,200 feet of sidewalk access along the east side of Whitley from just north of Edenderry Drive to South Rapp Road. New sidewalk access will continue along South Rapp to Willis Lane, officials said.

Project specifications indicate a total of 14 Americans with Disabilities Act-certified access ramps and seven pedestrian crossings will be added to supplement the new sidewalk route.

At least two access ramps and one crosswalk will be added to Whitley Road intersections with Edenderry Drive, Flanigan Hill Drive, Tipperary Drive and Foxford Drive. An additional four access ramps and two crosswalks will be installed at Rapp Road and Willis Lane.

The total cost of the sidewalk construction will be $1,114,217.41.

Federal dollars will account for the majority of funding, at $775,039. State contributions to the project will total $55,171, and the city will contribute $284,007.41.

The estimated completion date of the project is the end of May 2020, officials said.