Maren Webb and Rich Furlong work on the Safe Routes to School Demonstration Project at the intersection of County Road 7 and First Avenue West in front of Cook County Schools. On May 30, the SRTS Committee, including Cook County Schools, the City of Grand Marais, Cook County Highway Department, and the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, started the installation of a temporary crosswalk.
In light of so many people not slowing down for the kids and adults walking or biking to school at I.S.D. 166, the city of Grand Marais PUC workers got up early this past Wednesday, May 30, and painted the crosswalks. This was part of a Safe Routes to School demonstration project.
Hopefully brightening and bolding the crosswalks will give people driving more of a clue to slow down through this area, especially just before and after school when kids are entering or leaving the school grounds.
Maren Webb, coordinator for Moving Matters and Safe Routes to School, was also an early riser on Wednesday so she could begin prepping for the second part of the Safe Route to School demonstration project.
Starting about 8:30 a.m., Webb and three volunteers began painting the curb extensions.
The work was conducted at the intersection of County Road 7 and 5th Street and 1st Avenue West.
Rain, however, ended the day early for Webb and the volunteers.
“We were about one third of the way complete with the Safe Routes to School demonstration project before the rain came,” said Webb.
Before the downpour the curb extensions were temporarily marked with dark yellow paint. Webb said based on the forecast, she may try to assemble more volunteers this coming Friday morning to finish painting in the curb extensions, installing the bollards, and adding the painted arrows and stop bars.
Once the work is finished, Webb said, “It will be a lot of fun to see it in place and how it improves the intersection for the safety of our students.”
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