OXFORD, MS -- It's been a construction mess for months, but the end is in sight. Oxford is paving 12 miles of bike lanes throughout the city. The goal: to be able to pedal anywhere you'd drive.
"It's been a long haul, a long hot summer," says Mike Mossing with Oxford's Pathways Commission. Workers have been busy since May and the job is now half completed.
"There's not a lot of bike lanes and I'm excited about the new ones coming in," says grad student Davey Marrin.
The city's jam-packed with cars, students, and bikers, who are looking forward to more pathways.
"It is a biking community because it is such a college town," says Marrin. "Motorists are aware of the bike and pay attention to you."
"The goal is to make it accessible for people from eight to 80," Mossing adds. "More north and south routes through city, connecting parks and schools and libraries."
It's a two and a half million dollar project.
"We were really hopeful and ambitious at first," says Mossing. "It's taken some time. People have been very patient and we appreciate that.
He say it's been tough converting narrow two lane streets. In the future, every new street will be biker friendly.
"From here on out every roadway that's new and built in Oxford is going to have bike lanes associated with it because of our complete streets policy."
All 12 miles currently under construction are expected to be completed by January.
