Barrington parents pushing for sidewalk in their neighborhood

Parents who live along a Barrington side street are asking the village to build a sidewalk in their neighborhood, citing safety concerns.

They approached the village board Monday with the request, saying the two-block stretch of Bryant Avenue has become dangerous for students walking to and from nearby Roslyn Road Elementary School.

Bryant has no sidewalks between Northwest Highway and Roslyn Road.

“People are constantly flying down the street,” said Aarthi Roy, who has lived at the corner of Waverly Road and Bryant for nine years and walks her children to the school. “Buses are flying down the street.”

Even some signage at Roslyn Road and Bryant Avenue would help, she said.

“We have to acknowledge the fact that there is a lot going on in our neighborhood,” she said, noting traffic from a nearby Dunkin’ as well.

Bryant Avenue resident Marc Chappron said he has video of drivers speeding past while children are standing at the intersection. The road is 17 feet wide, making it crowded for passing vehicles, parked cars and children walking.

Chappron said drivers traveling east on Roslyn Road head downhill with no stop signs until they are past the school. At times, those drivers have the sun in their eyes as children are waiting to cross, he added.

Chappron presented a list of recommendations, including: placing crossing guards at the entrance to the school and the intersection of Roslyn and Bryant; making the intersection a three-way stop; installing a sidewalk and widening Bryant Avenue.

Kamila Thompson, who also lives on Bryant, noted there are ditches on both sides of the road.

“So when kids are trying to get away from cars, sometimes they are jumping into ditches that are overflowing with water,” she said.

Barrington Village Manager Scott Anderson wrote in an email that sidewalk installation is in the village’s next 5-year capital improvement plan and officials hope to obtain grant funding to help pay for the work.

“This project is a bit more complicated than just adding sidewalk slabs as there are culverts and drainage considerations,” he added.

szalusky@dailyherald.com