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Memphis, TN. - Please join Shelby County Government representatives and the community tonight to discuss the Holmes Road Project at New Sardis Baptist Church, D.G. Gray Fellowship Hall, 7739 East Holmes Road.
Holmes Road Project Background:
Holmes Road from Riverdale to Hacks Cross is a two mile section of two lane rural roadway with less than desirable geometry and deep roadside ditches. It’s located in a major east-west corridor of the southern region of the County and has experienced large residential growth in the past several years. Two schools, Highland Oaks Elementary and Highland Oaks Primary, are located along this stretch of roadway.
The County is proposing increasing the road from two to four lanes and adding a treed median, curbs and gutters and sidewalks. The design will comply with "Complete Street" principles which have been recently adopted in the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Long Range Transportation Plan. Ingress and egress for the two schools will be improved as well as safety for the young pedestrians and motorists.
In response to safety concerns for students walking to and from school, Shelby County developed an interim plan to install sidewalks through the TDOT Safe Routes to School Grant Program. Phase 1 of the plan installed sidewalks on one side of the road and was completed in the summer of 2007 using local funds. Phase II has been approved for a $219 K grant award and will finish building out the sidewalks on both sides of the road. The Phase II construction is estimated to start in FY 2009. The newly designed Holmes Road will take approximately ten months to complete and will maximize the continued use of these facilities. Community leaders helped initiate interest in this project and lobbied the County Commission for financial support.
For additional information, you can attend the Holmes Road Town Hall Meeting tonight at 6:30 PM.
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