East Lansing city officials hope a new sidewalk in the Northern Tier will alleviate safety concerns.
After about three weeks of construction, the pathway was completed Tuesday, said Todd Sneathen, director of East Lansing public works.
The new sidewalk runs parallel to the east side of Abbott/Chandler Road and connects Melrose Apartments, 16789 Chandler Road, to the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center, 6400 Abbott Road. From there students can follow a sidewalk that continues to MSU's campus.
"The city felt there was a large number of students and other people in that area that didn't have any access to sidewalks, and it's not the easiest place to travel along Chandler Road," Sneathen said.
Officials from Melrose Apartments worked with East Lansing on the plans and contributed to the cost of construction. Sneathen said the city paid $40,000 for the sidewalk, and isn't aware how much it cost Melrose. Officials from the apartments refused to comment.
The other side of the road is owned by Bath Township, and officials said there are no plans to install sidewalks.
Last October, Clare McCormick, a 19-year-old elementary education and child development sophomore from Alpena, and 19-year old Ashlee Nichols were walking on Chandler Road in Bath Township in the morning hours when a car hit the pair. McCormick died the next day and Nichols sustained major injuries.
But Sneathen said East Lansing's plans for the new sidewalk had little to do with the students' death and were talked about before the accident occurred.
"It didn't have any effect," he said. "It was obviously an unfortunate situation, but it didn't speed up the process."
Planning and Community Development Director Jim van Ravensway said more sidewalks, curbs and gutters won't be installed until Chandler Road is expanded.
Officials hope the sidewalk will eliminate dangers from the 45 miles per hour speedlimit and a lack of shoulders.
"It will separate pedestrian and bike traffic from the roadway," Sneathen said.
Deputy City Manager Jean Golden said future plans could also include the installation of a traffic light at the aquatic center entrance.
