WESTOVER — The city of Westover received its fourth grant to put toward new sidewalks last week.
Gov. Jim Justice announced the recipients of more than a dozen grants Dec. 10. Westover is one of 11 communities to receive money under the West Virginia Transportation Alternatives and Recreational Trails Program.
“We’re happy,” Mayor Dave Johnson said. “We’re thrilled to get this.”
Westover received $240,000. Johnson said one of the conditions of the grant is putting 20 percent — in this case $60,000 — toward the project. Since 2010, the city received $960,000 in grants and matched $240,000 for a total of $1.2 million, he said. All of that money went toward the Dunkard Avenue sidewalk project, Johnson said.
He explained the grants are funded by the federal government and administered by the state.
The recently received grant will be used to construct sidewalks from the intersection of Columbus Street and Dunkard Avenue to the intersection of Holland Avenue and Fairmont Road, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
“These grants are essential as we continue to grow West Virginia and provide programs that help our communities and citizens,” Justice said. “The multiplier effect on our return is at least eight times and many times it is more. As we move our state forward, and we are, the impact to our economy is substantial.”
Johnson said Westover has a lot of foot traffic and the sidewalks will make the city safer for those pedestrians. He said it’s not uncommon to see people walking in ditches or on the street itself.
“It’s very much a safety issue,” he said.
While the money was awarded, it will take time before it can be spent, Johnson said. The project has to be engineered, then go through an environmental review process before it can be put out to bid and construction can start, he said.
The engineering will be done by The Thrasher Group Inc., which Westover has on retainer, Johnson said. He said along the way, there are normally small tweaks to the design — things such as accounting for the different heights of driveways — which adds to the time it takes to start building. The sidewalk has to have a 6-inch curb, Johnson said.
It could be 2021 before the project actually gets started, though he’s hopeful it starts sooner, the mayor said.
Sidewalks were built from the Westover triangle up the right-hand side to where it turns into Granville and then back down the opposite side to Columbus Street using previous grants, Johnson said.
He said the project is very important to Westover and has been in the works since he took office in 2008.
“It’s a good thing for the city of Westover.”
