Sidewalk Missing Link to End, Safety Three Decades in Making

COURT HOUSE – As Cape May County Surrogate M. Susan Sheppard stated recently, those in public office sometimes do not see the completion of projects started during their terms. So it is with the 1,200-foot sidewalk in the county seat that will run from Emeritus of Cape May facility to East Pacific Avenue.
That stretch, announced in a municipal release last week, “represents the final component of a multi-phase project that resulted in the installation of sidewalks along the Route 9 business corridor. Through increasing its walkability, Middle Township strives to provide recreational opportunities and an increased quality of life to its residents and visitors.
“I’m glad we were able to find the funding for this important improvement,” Mayor Timothy Donohue stated. “This sidewalk project will allow residents, especially our seniors living at Emeritus, on Lee Lane and nearby areas, to have uninterrupted access to downtown shopping as well as municipal and county services provided in Cape May Court House.”
Construction will likely begin October and be completed in November. Middle Township is exploring cost-sharing opportunities with various agencies to offset the approximately $115,000 construction cost.
It was several decades ago, under the administration of mayor Michael J. Voll, that the idea of sidewalks took concrete form.
Voll believed the time had arrived when developers should place sidewalks in front of their facilities. Some bristled at the idea initially, but sidewalks took form.
When enough of those developments linked, Voll envisioned, sidewalks would afford safe pedestrians passage. He saw too many walking on shoulders of township roads.
Asked his thought on the completion of the Court House project, Voll stated, “I want to compliment and thank all involved in the proposed completion of the sidewalk project on Route 9 in Court House. This is a project that started in the 80s and 90s to provide more pedestrian safety.
“Now we request that you consider completing the same along Route 47 in Rio Grande. Every day I see many walking in the traffic because there are no sidewalks. Again thank you and keep pedestrian safety a priority.”