PROVO, Utah — As the orange barrels of construction season roll into Provo, several city projects are underway to improve safety for pedestrians, particularly children commuting to school. One of the most talked-about initiatives is a sidewalk and storm drain installation along a two-block stretch of 6th South, between 1400 West and 1600 West, directly in front of Sunset View Elementary School.
The project, which began this week, is part of the city’s broader effort to enhance safe routes to schools. Danielle Nixon, an engineer for the City of Provo, explained that the project focuses on installing a storm drain followed by a new sidewalk to better protect children walking to and from school.
“We’ve worked closely with local schools and parents, and one of the major requests we received was for a walkway here,” Nixon said.
However, the timing of the project has raised questions from local residents. With the school year still in session, many parents are concerned about the disruption to their daily routines as they navigate detours and roadwork near the school. For the next week, eastbound traffic on 6th South will be redirected due to construction.
“I understand that it’s temporary, but it’s still a hassle,” said Pedro Tachiquin, a parent of a student at Sunset View Elementary. “I just have to drive around a couple of blocks, and it doesn’t bother me too much.”
While some parents, like Tachiquin, are willing to deal with the temporary inconvenience, others feel the construction should have waited until after the school year ended. Elizabeth Seastrand, also a parent at the school, expressed her concerns about the impact on school pick-ups and drop-offs.
“It probably would have been a little more convenient and safer if they waited until the summer, when there aren’t as many kids commuting to school,” Seastrand said. “It definitely puts a damper on the commute for parents.”
In response, city officials emphasized that the project is being done with the goal of minimizing disruption. Nixon explained that the city opted to start the work during the tail end of the school year in order to complete it before the start of the next school year, aiming to avoid even more significant delays.
“We tried to start a little later this year to minimize the impact on students, but construction doesn’t always line up perfectly with the school calendar,” Nixon noted.
The city is also managing four other similar sidewalk projects throughout Provo, all part of a $3 million budget allocation approved by the city council last year. This year alone, $1.5 million has been set aside for additional sidewalk construction. The 6th South project carries a price tag of $600,000.
Public Works Director Gordon Haight emphasized the importance of the projects for the safety of students and pedestrians.
“It’s an expensive investment, but it’s crucial to get these sidewalks in place with schools nearby,” Haight said. “We’re working hard to ensure that these improvements are ready for the start of the next school season.”
Despite the challenges, some residents expressed understanding of the city’s larger goal.
“As citizens, we have to understand the reasoning behind the plan,” said Tachiquin. “If they’re doing it now, there’s a good reason for it.”
While some inconveniences are inevitable during construction, many in the community recognize the long-term benefits of making Provo’s streets safer for children. As the city pushes forward with its sidewalk expansion efforts, the hope is that these improvements will lead to safer, more accessible routes for students and pedestrians in the future.