City breaks ground on new projects in southwest Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two groundbreaking projects are underway successful southwest Fresno with the aforesaid goal: improving pedestrian and cycling infrastructure successful the area.

On Monday, officials with the City of Fresno broke crushed connected 2 large infrastructure projects.

Those 2 projects, the Southwest Fresno Trail and the MLK Active Transportation Infrastructure project, full $ 11 cardinal successful concern improvements successful the area.

Mayor Jerry Dyer described the improvements arsenic much than conscionable operation projects.

"They are investments successful safety, mobility, and the aboriginal of the residents of southwest Fresno," said Dyer.

Voices from assemblage meetings stretching arsenic acold backmost arsenic 20-20 led to a triumph for residents successful southwest Fresno.

Those changes see planting much than 100 trees, installing curbs and gutters, and lamp posts.

One of those changes volition beryllium the Southwest Fresno Trail named successful grant of Rashad Al-Hakim, Jr., a Hoover High sophomore who was killed successful a hit-and-run successful October of 2023.

Authorities accidental Al-Hakim was crossing First Street adjacent the Northeast Fresno field erstwhile Lisa Spoors drove into him and near the scene.

Last February, 40-year-old Spoors was sentenced to 5 years successful prison.

Although it's not justice, Bell believes it offers immoderate consciousness of bid to her and her family.

"When radical travel to this way and they spot his plaque and they spot his name, his communicative volition ever beryllium remembered," said Bell.

Long-term nonmigratory Hester Hensley has called Southwest Fresno location since 1946.

"I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly," said Hensley.

"Right now, this is ugly."

Hensley criticizes the $4.1 cardinal way that's acceptable to bring successful point-8 miles of pathway for cyclists.

"People don't adjacent bargain bikes implicit successful southwest Fresno similar they utilized to. Our kids don't thrust bikes similar that," Hensley said.

"Nowadays, you tin number the bikes successful this area."

She, similar others successful the community, sees the projects from a antithetic perspective.

"If you're One Fresno each Fresno should look alike. Southwest Fresno should look similar northbound Fresno, eastbound Fresno," said Hensley.

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