Residents find a few bumps in proposed Burleigh bike path

Residents today expressed a mix of concern and excitement over a new off-road pedestrian pathway on Burleigh Road.

At at a public information meeting Tuesday afternoon, city officials listened to resident feedback and answered questions about the project, expected to begin this summer.

The meeting was presented in an open house format by city engineer Jeff Chase, project engineers Jennifer Stilling and Natalie Schneider, and 2nd District aldermen Rick Owen and Bob Reddin. Together, they detailed part of a plan - adopted in 1987 and added to the city's 2020 Master Plan in 2000 - that will provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities on all arterial roads in Brookfield.

The Burleigh path will run for about three-quarters of a mile on the north side the road from Brookfield Road east to Marty Lane, connecting with an existing path that continues to Calhoun Road, Chase said.

Construction of the 6-foot-wide pathway includes tree removal, excavation, storm sewers, stone placement, asphalt pavement and turf restoration.

Impacted residents were invited to view preliminary design plans and to see how their property would be affected by construction.

Though the path will be constructed within the city's right of way, many voiced concerns about the impact construction would have on their yards.

One resident who lives on Nassau Drive, but did not want to be identified, said the concept was good. However, she objected to the way the path would intrusively cross her lawn.

Her property has small bushes that line the front of her lawn near the road, and the proposed design would have the path run behind those bushes, leading pedestrians and bicyclists into her front yard.

Others voiced gratitude for the path and said they were happy that joggers and bikers will have a safe place to travel on a road where drivers commonly exceed the posted 35-mph speed limit.

Stilling said engineers will consider all feedback received and that a final design is expected to be completed in May.