Grant approved for Cedar Bluff downtown

By ANGIE ARMS/Staff
CEDAR BLUFF – Recently $17.2 million in enhancement grants were approved by the Department of Transportation as part of the Transportation Enhancement Program, the two largest grants being allotted to two local southwest Virginia projects.
Cedar Bluff was granted $350,000 for the construction of sidewalks, lighting, bike racks, and interpretive signage along Old Kentucky Turnpike adjacent to Indian Creek.
Town Manger Jim McGlothlin said this is phase two of a four phase project that will add greatly to the downtown area of the Town.  The Town had previously received full funding for the first phase but their request for $523,066 for the second phase was reduced to the amount granted.  The total dollar amount for phase two is estimated at $653,833, the amount applied for would have reduced the cost of the project leaving the Town of Cedar Bluff paying for 20% of the estimated cost. 
McGlothlin said this is not a concern for the Town since funding is coming in faster than the project can be constructed.  The Town will be entering the final stages of preliminary plans as they hire a consultant engineer and get approval from VDOT for the proposed contract.  Once VDOT gives approval, McGlothlin said they would enter the final design work for both phase one and two.
“It’s very exciting,” said McGlothlin.  “It’s very competitive and some don’t get those funds at all.”
The project, said McGlothlin is an endeavor to instill pride, community togetherness and pedestrian safety in the Town of Cedar Bluff.  Included in the first phase of the project was the purchase of land across Indian Creek on the Old Kentucky Turnpike.  He said the land had come available during that phase of the project and they had to move on it while they could.  The plan for the property includes a downtown park, but will not get underway until a later phase. 
“We’re just anxious to turn the first shovel of dirt and get it underway,” said McGlothlin.
Receiving the largest amount of grant money was the Jewell Valley Greenway project in Buchanan County.  The project will be for the construction of a bicycle/hiking trail on an abandoned railroad in the amount of $400,000.  The total cost for this project is estimated at $1,080,000 and the amount originally requested in the application was $561,000.