THOMASVILLE — Right-of-way acquisition along Old Albany Road for a sidewalk project may not happen right away. But it could happen soon.

Thomasville City Council members approved entering into a contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation for state aid in right-of-way acquisition. 

“We are excited to get this underway,” city project manager Eve Geyer told council members.

The agreement, for $400,000, begins after a couple of key milestones are met, Geyer added. Right-of-way acquisition could start taking place in July.

Some right-of-way acquisition is necessary to build the pedestrian bridge that is part of the sidewalk project, Geyer noted. Other rights-of-way acquisition will allow the DOT to go back in and maintain slopes along the project. 

“They don’t want to have go back and keep getting easements,” she said. 

The city also has made an application for an additional $500,000 in Federal Highway Administration Transportation Alternatives Program funding. The state DOT redisbursed some of that money after finding other locations were behind schedule on their projects.

The sidewalk will be five feet wide, along with curb and gutter and grass areas with street trees planted. The planned work also includes new storm drainage piping, filling in ditches and establishment of retaining walls where needed. 

Work on the sidewalk project could begin as early as this fall.