City staff considers cost of widening St. Charles Road

City council member Karl Skala asked city staff Monday night about the possibility of widening St. Charles Road east of Columbia. The road runs past Battle High School and many students walk there from the surrounding neighborhoods.

“It’s a very dangerous place and you really do take your life in your hands,” said Skala.

The most recent cost estimate to widen the road and add sidewalks and bike lanes was about $8.5 million. Barry Dalton with Public Works said Thursday that staff is doing another cost estimate in response to Skala’s request to find ways to make minor safety improvements without doing an expensive overhaul.

Clark Lane was improved just a few years ago and Ballenger Lane from Ria Street to Mexico Gravel Road is next on the list.

“St. Charles is one of those things that needs some treatment,” said Skala. “I would be willing to make another compromise to see what the cost would be to have the same kind of treatment.”

Skala said he would be willing to see the road widened to six-foot shoulders now with the funds available and then work on adding “the whole nine yards” like bike lanes and sidewalks later.

“I’m trying to encourage folks to take a more compromised position for areas that are underserved,” he said. “I think that would be a substantial improvement without all those crazy improvements.”

Councilman Ian Thomas agreed with Skala Monday.

“I think it is consistent with Vision Zero to put those facilities (in),” he said.

Any plan related to the road will be up for public input which could change the price and plan as it goes along.