DAYTON — A popular road in Montgomery County is going on a so-called “road diet” to slow down drivers and increase safety.
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As reported on News Center 7 Daybreak, Dayton engineers plan to change Keowee Street between East Fifth and Monument Avenue
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The project is about a half mile long. It will start on East Fifth Street and go north to Monument Avenue.
It will shrink the roadway from seven lanes to five, add bike lanes, and widen the sidewalks.
Our news crew spoke with a woman who walked along Keowee Street to get to school. She supports the plan.
“I’ve almost been hit actually a few times on this road, crossing either way,” said McKenzie Smith. “Sometimes it’s pretty hard to get across to just make sure nobody’s coming and getting in the way.”
City officials believe work will start this summer and could be completed before winter.
Dayton’s engineer said that this will slow drivers down. Federal safety funds will pay for about 90 percent of the project.
“So really lightening the burden on our local community and our local revenue sources, income tax, what have you,” said David Escobar, City of Dayton Chief Engineer. “We’re really able to leverage those funds and so some pretty cool improvements.”
If it’s not complete, construction crews will return next spring to finish everything.
News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.
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