no bike path for chat holley

Beach Fanatic

Aug 22, '09 · 5:25 PM6,982

So, i'm hearing that Chat Holley will be repaved but the money ran out for any sort of pedestrian and/or bike path lane, easement of any nature?
does this sound like North of 98 is getting the screws put to them. I thought the nature of CH would be to get people (locals) to use it more as a bypass, instead of 98? but i would never in million years let my children come close to crossing it let alone walk down it with no path or easement. considering its history and death toll; am i out of line here?
can someone answer me this? why does a road like 83 get a path but a major use road like CH get zip? I cannot understand how we get behind the other programs but saving peoples lives and cutting car usage gets trashed so easily?
:idontno:

Replies

Beach Fanatic

Aug 26, '09 · 1:35 PM#27

As I understand it, when TS Michener platted the east end of Chat Holley back in the early 1900's, he didn't include enough easement to meet current standards. To bring it up to code, they would have to purchase property from the adjoining property owners. This has been a source of contention for many years, until Col Fleet ordered it paved as it was. If it is repaved, the issue will again be front and center, and whether they will allow it to be done without following code is yet to be seen.

Beach FanaticAuthor

Aug 26, '09 · 9:27 PM#28

Let me rephrase my response:

Perhaps you should talk to the property rights folks that think 36" will quickly turn into the government picking out their wall paper. They also argue that if you give them just 3 feet for a bike path they'll take 6 more feet for a golf cart path. Then they'll want to 4 lane the whole thing and eventually they'll have to move for the light rail track that will run parallel with the new 4 lane highway this pushing them completely out of the way and negating the need for a bike path in the first place.

:dothewave:.......................as the path goes the way of the Dodo bird.

SoWal Insider

Aug 27, '09 · 8:12 AM#29

Regarding spending money on bike lane, I'm all for a bike lane, as Chat Holley is probably the most narrow road in South Walton, but I bet there are many people who live on dirt roads in the area, who would rather have "their" road paved, than to have a bike lane on Chat Holley.

I live on a dirt road but NO WAY do I ever want it paved. It's flat, no ditches, no holes, and is well maintained. If it were paved, i'd have to dodge potholes within 6 months and we couldn't take our walks to the end of the road bare-footed anymore. I would like to see a path on West Hewitt & East Hewitt though, to accomodate this community in the future when all the development pops up at the end of the streeet. When that comes, we won't be able to take a walk on "the big road" without a path .

Our commissioners would do well to consider pedestrian traffic as they do vehicle traffic when permitting big development.

SoWal Expert

Aug 27, '09 · 8:18 AM#30

FYI- I believe the Planning Dept made a request for this project to have sidewalks on both sides of the internal road for this project, or for them to create one path at least 8ft in width on one side for pedestrian traffic. The internal road can be seen on the "site plan" link I posted earlier. It reminds me of the one which runs through Publix, Kelly Plantation, Home Depot, etc in Destin.

SoWal Insider

Aug 27, '09 · 8:52 AM#31

FYI- I believe the Planning Dept made a request for this project to have sidewalks on both sides of the internal road for this project, or for them to create one path at least 8ft in width on one side for pedestrian traffic. The internal road can be seen on the "site plan" link I posted earlier. It reminds me of the one which runs through Publix, Kelly Plantation, Home Depot, etc in Destin.

thanks. i don't want to derail this thread from Chat Holley issue, but i doubt the sidewalks will go as far up W. Hewitt as needed...just as far as their development.
Back to Chat Holley....county should be proactive in foot traffic, if for no other reason than to encourage people to walk, bike, etc. As it is, I wouldn't walk on Chat Holley...would anyone? unless it was a necessity?

Beach Fanatic

Aug 27, '09 · 9:33 AM#32

I don't know anything about this area having just arrived. But am I to understand that 83 is getting a bike path?

Thanks

G

Sorry about Chat Holley

SoWal Expert

Aug 27, '09 · 10:21 AM#33

thanks. i don't want to derail this thread from Chat Holley issue, but i doubt the sidewalks will go as far up W. Hewitt as needed...just as far as their development.
Back to Chat Holley....county should be proactive in foot traffic, if for no other reason than to encourage people to walk, bike, etc. As it is, I wouldn't walk on Chat Holley...would anyone? unless it was a necessity?

I don't know if they are doing it this year, but the SWHS cross country team used to run on Chat Holley. :blink:

Will said there were some very "interesting" dogs along the way- hope that route has been nixed this year- they need to be concentrating on running, not dodging cars and dogs.

SWGB

Aug 27, '09 · 11:18 AM#34

I live on a dirt road but NO WAY do I ever want it paved. It's flat, no ditches, no holes, and is well maintained. If it were paved, i'd have to dodge potholes within 6 months and we couldn't take our walks to the end of the road bare-footed anymore. I would like to see a path on West Hewitt & East Hewitt though, to accomodate this community in the future when all the development pops up at the end of the streeet. When that comes, we won't be able to take a walk on "the big road" without a path .

Our commissioners would do well to consider pedestrian traffic as they do vehicle traffic when permitting big development.

I understand where you are coming from, but from a cost standpoint a paved road is cheaper to maintain.

SoWal Insider

Aug 28, '09 · 10:06 AM#35

I understand where you are coming from, but from a cost standpoint a paved road is cheaper to maintain.

maybe some dirt roads cost more to maintain, i doubt mine falls into that category. It takes 10 minutes and i'm guessing maybe a quart or less of diesel every 4-5 weeks.....if that. I live on a dead end so there is minimal traffic. it's not like that clusterfluck off 393 north of chat holley.

SoWal Expert

Sep 8, '09 · 8:05 PM#36

As I understand it, the County is receiving a grant for making a multi-use path to run the full length of Chat Holley, from Hwy 331 to Hwy 393.

Edit: Sorry, I mispoke. The County approved the funding for the design and permitting for the road and multi-use trail to extend the entire length of Chat Holley from 393 to 331. Preble-Rish won that job for $75,800 and for an additional $52,000, they will inspect the construction and certify the project.

(link to details)

Beach Fanatic

Sep 9, '09 · 7:43 AM#37

As I understand it, the County is receiving a grant for making a multi-use path to run the full length of Chat Holley, from Hwy 331 to Hwy 393.

The only grant that the county received was from FDOT,and that is for the road work itself, not including a bike path. However, the board is pursuing a $10,000 grant that will help with the cost of the path, but the majority of the cost will have to come from within the budget. The path is needed. I just hope they can find the money.

Woulf the TDC be able to use any of their funds to help with a project like this?

Beach Fanatic

Sep 9, '09 · 8:51 AM#38

it's not like that clusterfluck off 393 north of chat holley.

If you're meaning the dirt portion way to the North to the bay, that's been under construction for weeks now. I think it's about to be paved for the 13 families that live up that way. It really did need something though. It was nearly 4 wheel drive after a good rain.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 9, '09 · 8:53 AM#39

The only grant that the county received was from FDOT,and that is for the road work itself, not including a bike path. However, the board is pursuing a $10,000 grant that will help with the cost of the path, but the majority of the cost will have to come from within the budget. The path is needed. I just hope they can find the money.

Woulf the TDC be able to use any of their funds to help with a project like this?

The bridge on the West end is nearly replaced already and I'd bet it was never sized for a future bike path. A bike path probably became a dead issue for another 40 years when the bridge needs to be replaced again.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 9, '09 · 9:56 AM#40

The bridge on the West end is nearly replaced already and I'd bet it was never sized for a future bike path. A bike path probably became a dead issue for another 40 years when the bridge needs to be replaced again.

I was told by Public Works that they designed both new bridges with a bike path for future use. In their defense, it seems that they did take future plans into consideration.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 10, '09 · 8:37 AM#41

Multi-Use Path Approved

In the paper this morning. Multi-use path was approved last night. How to pay for it and when to put it in being discussed.

Admin

Sep 10, '09 · 8:42 AM#42

County approves plan for multi-use path on Chat Holly Road | county, use, holly - Local News - WaltonSun.com

Walton County commissioners have approved a proposal to design improvements and a multi-use path along Chat Holly Road.
But how much the projects will cost and how they will be funded has not been determined.
Commissioners approved the $75,800 proposal from the engineering firm Preble-Rish earlier this week.
Allen Brown, the county’s deputy public works director, said construction of the multi-use path is secondary to the resurfacing the road, which will be funded in part by a $700,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation....

SoWal Expert

Sep 10, '09 · 12:42 PM#43

In the paper this morning. Multi-use path was approved last night. How to pay for it and when to put it in being discussed.

To clarify what took place at Tuesday's BCC meeting, the BCC approved the funding for the engineering and permitting of the road and the multi-use path to be completed. They have not approved construction or bids for the multi-use path.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '09 · 12:56 AM#44

thanks. i don't want to derail this thread from Chat Holley issue, but i doubt the sidewalks will go as far up W. Hewitt as needed...just as far as their development.
Back to Chat Holley....county should be proactive in foot traffic, if for no other reason than to encourage people to walk, bike, etc. As it is, I wouldn't walk on Chat Holley...would anyone? unless it was a necessity?

I see people walk, or run on Chat Holley all the time. I also recall pedestrian deaths on that road.

Beach Fanatic

Sep 12, '09 · 12:59 AM#45

I don't know if they are doing it this year, but the SWHS cross country team used to run on Chat Holley. Will said there were some very "interesting" dogs along the way- hope that route has been nixed this year- they need to be concentrating on running, not dodging cars and dogs.

Actually, the dogs are on JD Miller Rd.

Beach Lover

Oct 24, '11 · 6:12 PM#46

Is the sidewalk on chat holly for walking? I see that the side walk on the other side of 393 says no bikes or skateboards. A biker almost hit me and my dog riding on the sidewalk. I sure hope they put up signs that say the same thing on Chat Holley. All the cyclist that ride in groups dont ride the sidewalk they ride with the flow of traffic.