THOMASVILLE — Results from an on-site public meeting showed more than half of residents living on a stretch of Magnolia Street prefer five-foot sidewalks.

Sidewalks installed on Magnolia between Augusta Avenue and Jones Street prior to 2019 are eight feet wide.

Between Jones and Bartow Street, a project to install five-foot sidewalks is underway, funded by a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

On July 14, city staff erected a tent and conducted a public meeting to discuss potential modifications to the eight-foot sidewalk. All residents along the affected street were notified about the meeting.

Overwhelmingly, public opinion expressed during the meeting elected to replace the eight-foot-wide sidewalk with a standard-sized sidewalk, grass strip and curb and gutter to mirror the design of the five-foot sidewalk under construction on Magnolia, Wayne Newsome, city engineer, told city council members at a Monday meeting.

The proposed work can be change-ordered into the existing contract with H&H Paving, the Quitman company installing five-foot sidewalks, Newsome said, adding the price would be more competitive than if the work were put to bid.

The council approved an H&H Paving bid of $99,393.50 for the new five-foot sidewalk work. The project will be funded by 2018 special purpose local option sales tax revenue.

“Phase III will be from Augusta (Avenue) to South Pinetree Boulevard,” said City Manager Alan Carson. “We’re in Phase II now.”

Carson said Phase III sidewalk work would require another grant for funding.