By Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
The Bossier City Council voted Tuesday, March 31, to move forward with a proposed sidewalk improvement project aimed at increasing pedestrian safety along a busy stretch of Barksdale Boulevard.
Council members approved an agreement allowing Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler to enter into a partnership with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for a federally funded project estimated at $2 million.
The project would focus on enhancing walkability along a roughly five-mile section of Barksdale Boulevard, extending from Central Park Drive near Interstate 20 to Westgate Drive. The corridor has been identified as an area where pedestrian access and safety have been ongoing concerns in recent years.
City officials said improvements will include the construction and enhancement of sidewalks along portions of both the north and south sides of the roadway, with the majority of work expected to take place on the south side.
“It’s going to start at Central Park Drive close to I-20 and it will end at Westgate,” said Andy Bajnauth, Bossier City Engineer. “It will be on a combination of both the north and south side, mostly on the south side. The city will design the project.”
Bajnauth noted that while the project has been approved to move forward, surveying work has not yet begun. As part of the agreement, the City of Bossier City will be responsible for providing a 20 percent match toward the project cost.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to improve infrastructure and safety for pedestrians in high-traffic areas. Officials say the addition and upgrade of sidewalks will provide safer routes for residents who walk along the corridor, whether for commuting, exercise or access to nearby businesses.