Bike path nears opening
As long as you provide the power, you can start using the 2.7-mile multi-use path along Evans to Locks Road soon.
A construction crew looks for washouts along the new bike path on Evans To Lock Road after las month's heavy rains.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Work on the $455,000 first phase of the path from Stevens Creek Elementary to the Savannah Rapids Pavilion has been ongoing for months. Now all that's left is some clean-up items, some mailboxes that need to be moved and some planting that needs to be done, Columbia County Engineer Jim Leiper said.
"Everything is moving along very smoothly," he said.
Once the path does officially open, probably in the middle of November, it'll be off limits to any motorized vehicles, including golf carts. Columbia County commissioners are expected to give final approval to an ordinance Tuesday night.
"Golf cars are specifically excluded," said Doug Batchelor, Columbia County's attorney.
Leiper said the issue is about safety.
"The intent is not to have people dodging out of the way of golf carts while they are walking with their baby strollers or have their toddlers on bicycles with training wheels," he said.
Eventually, officials hope the plan will run from the pavilion to the Evans Government Center. They've split the work into three phases: from the pavilion to Stevens Creek Elementary, from Stevens Creek to Blue Ridge Drive - a $296,000 project and last from Blue Ridge to the Evans Government Center. Leiper said bids for the second phase of the path will be opened Thursday.