East Ridge has won a $949,833 grant from the state to fund pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Ringgold Road.
The multimodal project will include the installation of a half mile of sidewalks on both sides of the road, which is also known as State Route 8 or US 41, as well as improvements to the median, according to a news release.
Those additions will allow pedestrians and cyclists to move between residential areas and commercial zones, part of a statewide effort to improve transportation infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
"Improving our facilities for walking, biking, and transit is critical to the continued growth and success of our towns and cities, and these grants help make our communities across Tennessee more livable by creating more transportation options," said Gov. Bill Haslam.
The state's Multimodal Access Fund Program makes funds available for sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, bus shelters, park and ride facilities and bicycle lanes. Projects, which must not exceed $1 million, are 95 percent funded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and 5 percent funded by local matching funds.
"Our responsibilities as a transportation agency go far beyond building roads and bridges," said John Schroer, commissioner of TDOT. "Providing safe access for different modes of transportation ultimately creates a more complete and diverse network for our users. These projects are also extremely cost effective, which allows TDOT to make improvements in more areas across the state."
TDOT's program, which was created in 2013, has funded 27 projects through a competitive grant process.