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 The widening of Booker Dairy Road in front of Smithfield-Selma High School, Neuse Charter School, and the Recreation and Aquatics Center includes construction of sidewalks on both sides of a newly divided roadway. The Town of Smithfield is helping the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) pay for the sidewalks. |
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| Sidewalks making a comeback in Smithfield places old and new During the years following World War II, the town suspended an old practice of adding sidewalks to both sides of all streets, residential neighborhoods included. Guess they figured folks didn't need the paved walks anymore as just about every household purchased an automobile or two after war-time gasoline rationing ended and wage earners got more spending money. But today, more folks, especially younger folks, want places that are "pedestrian friendly," so Smithfield --- as most other cities and towns across the nation --- is paying attention to sidewalks once again. |
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 NCDOT recently added wheelchair and stroller ramps to older sidewalks at several corners along North Third Street, which the state maintains as Secondary Road 1003. |
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Not to be outdone, the Town of Smithfield has added
new pavement and "curb cuts" to several nearby
corners, including this one at Hancock and North
Fourth streets.
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 Several years ago the town constructed sidewalks beside the new section of Riverside Cemetery at South Front and Church streets. Before then, the cemetery had no sidewalk access at all. |
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 There are still a
couple of "sidewalk gaps" here and there, including
this one at Caswell and North Fifth streets where curb
cuts were recently added. For some reason, sidewalks
were never built on either side of Fifth between
Caswell and Bridge streets.
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 Another place that lacks sidewalks is Wilson's Mills Road in West Smithfield. Town Councilman David Barbour, who represents the district, repeatedly reminds the council of that. |
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RETURN TO THE SMITHFIELD WEEKLY SUN FRONT PAGE |
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