Charleston going extra half mile

Get ready to jog a little farther. The Cooper River bridge pedestrian and bike path is getting longer.

The city of Charleston plans to build a 12-foot-wide sidewalk along East Bay Street that will extend the popular path by about half a mile.

The extension will run on Charleston's side of the river from Cooper Street south to Chapel Street on the east side of East Bay Street.

The proposal was made possible when the State Ports Authority board this week approved an easement agreement with the city to allow construction of the path on two irregular-shaped parcels of Ports Authority property.

In return for access to the land, the city will fund construction of the path, a new security fence and landscaping.

The SPA was contacted by the city about extending the popular path and the agency gladly handed over the land, said SPA spokesman Byron Miller.

"A lot of people enjoy walking and biking it, so we were happy to help," Miller said.

Steve Livingston, director of Charleston's Parks Department, said the project will be done in two phases and is expected to cost about $1.1 million. It could be finished by next spring, he said.

The project was announced in 2005 after the city lined up a $460,000 federal grant for the work. At the time, city officials hoped the bike path would be completed by the summer of 2006. The cost estimate changed after planners studied and engineered the plan, Livingston said.

This week, Charleston announced the receipt of a $10,000 grant for the bike path project from Bikes Belong, a national coalition of bicycle suppliers and retailers.

"We have seen the enthusiasm of the public for the Cooper River bridge bike and pedestrian path and are committed to provide as many biking and walking opportunities as possible to our residents," Mayor Joe Riley said.

David Slade contributed to this report.Reach Peter Hull at 937-5594 or phull@postandcourier.com.