A project that aims to make Couch Lane safer for residents, bicyclists and pedestrians alike is moving along ahead of schedule, according to city officials. 

The Couch Lane project will create a shared-use path connecting Crestview Road to McAlister Road. 

Members of the city's bicycle and pedestrian committee heard an update on the project Thursday morning. 

Councilman Chris Mann, who chairs the committee, said the project is ahead of schedule. 

Don Youngblood, a committee member who lives on Couch Lane, agreed. 

“It looks like the rough grading and drainage is virtually complete,” he said. “Once the rough grading is done, they'll come in and do the curbings to preserve the vegetative strip. It's looking really good.” 

Youngblood said the residents in the Couch Lane area are excited about the project. 

“Those subdivisions down at the Crestview end have been landlocked, because there's no sidewalks at all,” Youngblood said. “All the kids in those neighborhoods can ride in the neighborhoods, but it's not safe to get out and try to walk up to the shopping center or down to the country club. Everybody's real excited about it.” 

The project includes a four-foot grass shoulder, an 8-foot shared use path, another two-foot shoulder, and then a ditch for drainage, from Crestview Road to Foster Avenue.
North of Foster Avenue to the path's end at McAlister Road, the project includes a one-foot widening of the road, installation of 2-ft curb and guttering, a 4-ft grass shoulder, the 8-ft shared-use path, and a 2-ft shoulder on the other side. 

Mann said continuing rains, while needed, could delay the project a bit. 

Youngblood said he believed residents wouldn't be too upset by some delays.

“(The project) is so welcomed,” Youngblood said. 

Mann agreed. 

“Couch Lane was a very dangerous road,” he said. 

“You'd have to go in the drainage ditch if you wanted to walk,” Youngblood said.