NEW ALBANY —
The city of New Albany will host a public meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, to discuss construction plans to improve McDonald Lane. The hearing will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, 1725 Scheller Lane, New Albany.
The meeting is designed to give the public an opportunity to review the plans and offer comments on the proposal.
“The more input we receive, the better,” said Mayor Jeff Gahan in a news release. “We want the finished product to be a completely new street corridor that improves the lives of residents of the area, along with citizens who travel daily along this thoroughfare.”
The project will reconstruct McDonald Lane, replacing the existing pavement and adding a storm sewer system using curbs and inlets. A new sidewalk, along with a multi-use biking/walking path, will also be added. Safety improvements will be a critical aspect of the project according to the release.
Two roundabouts are being proposed — one at the intersections of McDonald Lane and Hickoryvale Drive, and another at the intersection of McDonald Lane and Oxford Drive. These will improve the current dysfunctional intersections while limiting car speeds. Speed tables near Roanoke Avenue are included to slow traffic as well.
“The city is very excited about improving safety in the area while also adding features for pedestrians and bikers,” Gahan said. “The design will improve pedestrian and bicycle access, while reducing vehicular speed. This addresses major concerns expressed by residents at the inception of the project. The improved corridor will also improve drainage, and will virtually do away with roadside ditches. It will serve the needs of the neighborhood well, while improving both safety and livability.”
The meeting will feature an open-house session where interested residents can make comments on the preliminary design, have an opportunity to view project displays, receive informational handouts, and talk to project representatives one on one while having questions and concerns addressed. Officials from the city along with their design consultants from Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates, Inc., will be on hand to answer questions.
The public will also have the opportunity to provide written comments on the improvement project for the record. Comments can be made in multiple ways: To submit a comment email the project manager, Nick Batta with BLA, at nbatta@blainc.com.
SO YOU KNOW
WHAT: McDonald Lane Public Hearing
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 30, 6:30 to 8 p.m. [Brief formal presentation at 6:45 p.m.]
WHERE: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 1725 Scheller Lane, New Albany
• In addition to the public meeting, the preliminary plans are available for public viewing between at the following locations:
— City of New Albany: 311 Hauss Square, Room 325 of the City-County Building, New Albany
— New Albany-Floyd Count Public Library: 180 West Spring St., New Albany
— Bernardin, Lochmueller and Associates’ office in Jeffersonville: 61 Quartermaster Court, Jeffersonville
