Bike, pedestrian routes get upgrades ahead of Fall River school year start

The state also improved the crosswalk in front of Mitchell Heights on South Main Street in the South End.

FALL RIVER — Just in time for back to school, cross walks, road, pedestrian and bike path markings along the Scholarship City Bike Path from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's CIE to Bristol Community College and other areas of the city have been spruced up as a MassDOT highway safety improvement project.

“It’s not just safer for bicyclists and pedestrians but it gives more visibility to motorists,” said Laura Ferreira, director of traffic and parking. “We’ve had so many calls that are positive. A lot of people feel it is much safer and there's better visibility. The visibility and safety is a huge key.”

Ferreira said the MassDOT was working on upgrading striping using thermoplastic materials that is bright and more durable, plus signage on the more heavily traveled roadways for approximately three weeks including Eastern, Brayton and Plymouth avenues, Globe Street and Stafford Road.

The state also improved the crosswalk in front of Mitchell Heights on South Main Street in the South End.

Ferreira said her department is still working on remarking crosswalks and bike path signage on the side streets to connect to the work that MassDOT has done on the major roads. That work will continue into the fall.

Julianne Kelly, coordinator for Mass in Motion-Fall River, said the 3-mile long Scholarship City Bike Path in addition to UMass Dartmouth and BCC, serves Diman, Bishop Connolly and Durfee high schools, Talbot Middle School and Watson, Spencer Borden and the Tansey elementary schools.

“So the name was appropriate, and the city was thinking about what was the safest route,” Kelly said. “From Mass in Motion's point of view this is looking at all forms of transportation and safety for those who want to bike to school whether its teachers, staff or students and it’s a way the city is demonstrating its commitment to complete streets for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians.”

Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com.