Public Works Tackles Tess Corners Path, Again

After residents came out to oppose the recreation path planned for the Tess Corners Drive project, alternatives will be explored at Wednesday night's Public Works Committee meeting.

The committee will meet at a special date and time from its normal schedule to help expedite the process in order to avoid a delay in constructing the road, which was at 90 percent in the design phase and scheduled to begin in late May or June 2012 before opponents requested it be nixed from the plans. included what options could delay the project until next year.

One option is to narrow the path to six feet, which would not address the majority of concerns over tree loss in front of homes. Another suggestion was to reroute the path entirely to place it behind the fire station on Tess Corners. The third option, placing an onroad biking and pedestrian lane, may save a majority of the trees, but has others concerned for safety as it would place the path even closer to traffic on a busy road.

The last option also would be the most expensive, as subsoil issues in the road have required deeper digging by crews and would extend the area they would need to work on along the entire route. It also is likely that this option will push construction into 2013.

The meeting will be held at at 6 p.m. in the Alderman's Room.