New Locksley Way multiuse path showcases successful partnership between ��ӽ紫ý, Starkville and Oktibbeha County

Officials cut a ribbon in front of the new Locksley Way multiuse path. — ��ӽ紫ý President Mark E. Keenum joins other local officials in celebrating the completion of the Locksley Way multiuse path Tuesday [Oct. 29], a collaborative effort between Mississippi ��ӽ紫ý, Oktibbeha County and the city of Starkville. Pictured, from left, are Oktibbeha County District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller, Neel-Schaffer Engineer Manager Saunders Ramsey, Starkville City Engineer Edward Kemp, Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, Mississippi Department of Transportation Civil Engineer Travis Wampler and Keenum. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

Representatives from Mississippi ��ӽ紫ý University, the city of Starkville and Oktibbeha County celebrated the new multiuse path on Locksley Way Tuesday [Oct. 29].

The walking and bike path links the south end of the ��ӽ紫ý campus to the south side of Starkville, providing safe pedestrian access to and from campus, and connecting several points of interest in town. It was built using federal funding administered by the Mississippi Department of Transportation, with matching funds provided by ��ӽ紫ý, Starkville and Oktibbeha County.

“By working together, we have created a beautiful pedestrian corridor that will benefit our students and the citizens of this community,” ��ӽ紫ý President Mark E. Keenum said. “As our campus and the surrounding area continues to grow, it is important that we develop infrastructure to support multiple transportation methods. I would like to thank everyone who has worked to make this project a reality.”

The path runs from the intersection of South Montgomery and Locksley Way to the intersection of Blackjack Road and Stone Boulevard. It connects to the Lynn Lane multiuse path, which runs from South Montgomery to McKee Park. Combined, the two projects create over 2.5 miles of pedestrian pathways through densely populated and high traffic areas of Starkville.

“The Locksley Way multiuse path is one of the premier projects for our community because it serves as a continuation of a project within the city, but in this case we were able to partner with our strongest allies, Oktibbeha County and Mississippi ��ӽ紫ý University,” said Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill. “Oktibbeha County and Supervisor Bricklee Miller took the lead on this project and saw it through to its successful completion. It also serves the goal of recognizing quality of life as one of the major factors in creating a community where health and transportation can meet to achieve positive results. This is a win-win for each of our respective entities.”

The Locksley Way project contains the first two-way cycle track in Mississippi. It also includes a convenient stop for the Starkville-��ӽ紫ý Area Rapid Transit (SMART) system. The total construction cost was $971,828, most of which was federal funding. ��ӽ紫ý, Starkville and Oktibbeha County each contributed $133,000 toward the project.

“I am particularly proud of this project because the city, county and university leveraged grant money for a quality-of-life improvement that wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t worked together,” said Miller, Oktibbeha County District 4 supervisor. “This is just one small step, but this kind of cooperation, and projects like this, make our community more attractive. That’s critical to community being the number one place for jobs and opportunity in our part of the state.”

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