CADIZ — The village of Cadiz will receive $186,710 for one of the new safety projects funded through Ohio’s Safe Routes to School program.

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Jack Marchbanks recently announced that over $8 million was being awarded statewide to projects that focus on the safety of children who bike or walk to school. According to a news release, the effort is funded through grants from the state with the goal to improve safety for students in grades K-12 on their way to and from school.

ODOT awards the funding as part of its Safe Routes to School program, which aims to support education initiatives and building infrastructure such as sidewalks and enhanced pedestrian crossings. The program is set to fund 29 projects in 19 counties, and Harrison County is one of the 19 counties to be featured.

The Cadiz project will include the Installation of 1,215 feet of sidewalk along Ohio 9 to connect with existing sidewalks on Liggett Lane in the area of the Harrison Central school complex in Cadiz. The project will be completed by 2027.

“Creating the opportunity for children to walk and bike to school is so important, and this funding will help communities ensure that these routes are as safe as possible,” DeWine said. “Motorists should also do their part by paying attention, especially in and around schools.”

As stated in the press release from ODOT: “Safe Routes to School funding will cover project development; right of way acquisition; construction; non-infrastructure programming; and school travel planning activities.”

The projects selected for the program are competitively selected by a committee with members from ODOT and the Ohio Department of Health. The committee makes selections based on the individual propoosal’s ability to demonstrate improved pedestrian and bike connectivity, number of students impacted, improved safety, economic need and available funding.

The program started in 2005 and has provided $83 million to schools, municipalities, health districts, park districts and nonprofit partners to improve safety for students.

“As an avid cyclist myself, I am encouraged to see so much demand from young Ohioans to get on a bike or walk to get to school. It is our responsibility to give this next generation safer infrastructure to enjoy these modes of transportation,” Marchbanks said.