Fearful for a child’s safety, Wright City Alderman Tom Black made a strong call last Thursday for building sidewalks along Bell Road.

“We need it bad,” he said at the board of aldermen meeting. “I’m tired of seeing the kids walk in the ditches every time a car comes. There will be somebody hurt or killed down there.”

Two schools, Wright City Elementary and Wright City Middle, are located either on or near Bell Road. Other board members agree that sidewalks need to be built, but are skeptical as to how soon it can be done. 

Black claimed a bicyclist recently riding on Bell Road was forced into the ditch by an approaching vehicle.

“There is no way to ride a bike or walk other than in the ditch or the blacktop,” Black said. “I think it’s a mistake that we’re not doing something about it. I truly believe something should be done.”

Alderman Jim Schuchmann told Black that the board talked about the possibility of helping the situation, but has been slowed somewhat by means outside the city’s control. He also recalled an instance where the matter was tabled more than two years ago by a previous board.

Currently the matter is being discussed by the city’s planning and zoning board.

“It takes time,” Schuchmann said. “We don’t have a lot of right of way going down Bell Road. I agree with you, it’s an issue we should be addressing.”

Harry Harper, a member of the public works department, noted that the city had trouble obtaining easements on the east side of Bell Road in the past when a water line was installed.

Alderman Jim Toothman also questioned building a sidewalk on the western side. He said future growth may require Bell Road to be widened.  

“Why would you want to put the cost out to put sidewalks in and then tear them up again to make a wider street?” Toothman asked.

Black, however, contended that residents would fight any widening of the street.

“People on Bell Road don’t want that widened,” he stated. “It would be worse than a freeway.”

Toothman disagreed.

“If you put 500 homes west, that traffic has to go somewhere,” he responded.

Earlier in last week’s meeting, Karen Girondo, the city’s economic development director/treasurer, asked the board to begin thinking about projects that could be proposed as part of an application to be submitted for a MoDOT Transportation Enhancement grant. 

The city recently received grant money for sidewalks between Ruge and Diekroeger parks and along Westwoods Road.

Maybe, Black said, Bell Road could be included in a future grant application. 

For the meantime, Toothman recommended that Black put together a plan to spearhead getting the sidewalk project started.

“I will take it with the help of the board,” Black said.