New study looks at possibility of sidewalk along Floyd County's Paoli Pike

FLOYDS KNOBS, Ind. (WDRB) -- A feasibility study will take a look at the possibility of creating a sidewalk along Floyd County's Paoli Pike.

Project Manager Nathan Frey said Friday the purpose is to see if there's a need and study options and costs before actually building anything.

An online survey shows various options and asks questions about preferred use. The first public meeting about the study is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Nov. 20 at Coffee Crossing in at 3700 Paoli Pike in Floyds Knobs.

"The intent of the study will be to make recommendations on what fits," Frey said. "And then, also, it may be in different phases. It may be two, three or four phases. There is a bridge that would be impacted out there as well, so widening that bridge or replacing that bridge is a costly piece of infrastructure."

He said nothing is certain at this early stage.

"We're really just trying to figure out what the needs are and put that into a plan," Frey said.

Frey said funds for this study cover Paoli Pike from US-150 to Buffalo Trail, which is about 2.5 miles.

"If you're trying to get to downtown — it's a nice evening and you want to walk to Coffee Crossing or somewhere like that — how do we get you from where you live to that place safely, either on a bike or by foot?" he said. "That's really what this is about is safety."

He said a bike trail is also being discussed. A final study is expected to be completed by May 2025 and presented to the Floyd County Commissioners.