State funds new sidewalks in Kellogg

KELLOGG –– A $250,000, five-part pedestrian safety project is underway thanks to funding from the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) as part of their Children Pedestrian Safety Program.

The project will focus on five major areas throughout Shoshone County’s largest city where the amenities and accessibility for pedestrians are greatly lacking.

The application was submitted to LHTAC by the city in June 2022. It was supported by many of the major businesses and other agencies that operate in Kellogg, including the Kellogg School District, Shoshone County Fire District No. 2, Kellogg Police Department, the Shoshone Board of County Commissioners, and Silver Mountain.

Kellogg Public Works Director Mike Fitzgerald, along with engineering firm Alta Science and Engineering, combed through the city to identify places that were both high traffic and required the most work – they landed on five areas of emphasis that they included in their plans.

The first part of the project, which is already underway, is taking place along Hill Street between the city park and Teeters Field. The plan is to install ramps, sidewalks, curbs, and gutters on both sides of the street at the bottom of the hill – they will also be adding a cement walkway that runs around the Silver Valley Veterans Memorial.

The next locations where people will see changes include the addition of sidewalks along State Street where Bunker and Railroad Avenue connect near the city park and creation of a crosswalk and ramp where Legion Ave meets Hill Street near the Yokes parking lot.

The final areas of emphasis will be in various spots throughout the northern portion of Kellogg, colloquially known as the Sunnyside – specifically, spots along Hill Street, Cedar Street, Mission Avenue, and several other small sections will be addressed.

Fitzgerald chuckled while explaining the premises of the grant boil down to a, “if you can spend it, we’ll get it to you” mentality.

“The bottom line is that the city is going to utilize the $250,000 to fill in sidewalk gaps and install pedestrian crossing warning signs in high-use areas where the application and installation are not complicated with obstacles such as power poles and trees,” Fitzgerald said. “A great example is on both sides of Hill Street at the CDA Trail. The sidewalk improvements in this area will provide a long-missing connection between the existing Hill Street sidewalks and the trail.”

In order to meet the grant requirements, the money must be spent by the middle of October, and LHTAC would like to receive closeout reports by January.