Work on a sidewalk project that was inspired by input from Northeast Richland residents is set to begin Monday, April 12.

The sidewalk on Kneece Road will run about a half mile, from O’Neil Court to Brookfield Road. The Richland County Public Works project aims to provide a safe route for pedestrians, particularly students walking to Richland Northeast High School who access Brookfield Road by way of Kneece Road.

Construction is expected to last four to six months and will take place during the day, with no delays or detours expected.

In 2018, Public Works received a resident request for a sidewalk along Kneece Road that would provide students a safe walking route. Public Works presented the project to the state-funded County Transportation Committee (CTC), noting a sidewalk would complement work already planned for the area under Richland County’s Transportation Penny Program.

The CTC, which administers the County’s allocation from the gasoline tax-funded state roads program, approved the project.

The new sidewalk will augment Richland County Transportation’s Decker/Woodfield neighborhood improvement plans, which include sidewalk and pedestrian safety projects on nearby streets.