Elm Street will soon have a new sidewalk to improve pedestrian accessibility downtown.

The Troy City Council approved a project agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Tuesday to continue progress toward beginning construction on the project, which would build a new sidewalk along Elm Street from George Wallace Drive to College Street.

“Connect sidewalks all the way on that side of the road should be better for neighborhood and getting kids across to this side of the road,” said Tim Ramsden, CDG engineer.

The sidewalk will provide the ability to walk or bike safely all the way from U.S. Highway 231 to Downtown Troy, Ramsden said.

The project is primarily funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and ALDOT through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant.

City officials have secured these grants to repair and replace sidewalks downtown, to place a multi-use path along the new connector roads and to create a multi-use path from Troy University to the historic downtown district.

Several of these projects coincide with the city’s downtown plan to revitalize the central business district by increasing walkability as well as improving the aesthetics of the area.

Ramsden said the construction should ideally begin within a year.

The council also approved for funds to be used on the relocation of what Mayor Jason Reeves described as a critical sewage line.

“This travels to our largest lift station,” Reeves said. “It is critically important. Everything that lies on the north side of town is lifted and goes down Alabama Highway 67. That’s why this stretch is so critical.”

Utilities Manager Brian Chandler said the line broke and it had to undergo emergency repairs to temporarily fix it. However, the line is hard to reach and Chandler said it is important to relocate it.

“This would move it right on side of road where it will be much easier to inspect and repair if anything came up in the future,” Chandler said.

In fact, Chandler recommended for the council to reject a bid on another sewer line project on Pine Street due to the critical importance of this sewer line.

The council agreed and rejected bids for the other project.