As part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program, the City of Cambridge applied for and received funding to replace the sidewalk along Clairmont Avenue in front of the Cambridge Primary School. 

“Cambridge Schools has a great relationship with the City of Cambridge, and this is just one more example of the city taking on a project that will benefit the students of our district,” Cambridge Superintendent Dan Coffman said. 

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s website, the Safe Routes to School program provides resources, technical assistance, and project funding to encourage and enable students in grades K-12 to walk or ride their bikes to school. 

The program provides approximately $5 million annually for infrastructure projects within two miles of schools serving K-12 students and will also fund non-infrastructure activities that meet certain educational requirements. 

In June of 2024, the state awarded the City of Cambridge $335,411 to replace 3,810 square feet of sidewalk along the north side of Clairmont Ave. from 10^th Street to Clark Street. 

According to the City, the project will start on March 24 and continue for approximately 60 days. The city contracted with S&F Construction Services LLC to complete the work. 

During the project, two lanes of traffic will be maintained from Clark Street to just past the Primary School exit. From the Primary School exit to 10^th Street, there will only be one-way traffic heading east toward Clark Street. 

Kindergarten and first grade parents who pick up their students on the east side of the building next to the YMCA, will only be able to turn left or go straight out of the parking lot. Parents who drop off and pick up students at the McFarland Drive entrance may also see a disruption in traffic flow as they turn off 10^th Street onto McFarland Drive. 

S&F Construction Services and the city have agreed to pay for additional security resources to be present during drop off and pick up times from approximately 7:40 to 8:10 a.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m. 

“We are excited for this project to be completed,” Coffman said. “We request that everyone be diligent in maintaining patience and acting in a manner to ensure that all students are kept safe.”