SURF CITY, N.C. (WECT) – People who frequent Surf City often have probably seen people walking or biking along busy Highway 210 to get to the island, but that soon could be a thing of the past, with a new path providing safety.

Gordon Rock has lived in Surf City for 20 years. He’s an active guy who loves to bike and skateboard around town, but it’s not always easy for him to do.

“I bike as much as I can. With the traffic though, that does make it a bit difficult,” said Rock. “It’s not safe for the cyclists — or the traffic — for cyclists to be on such a narrow road with little to no shoulder.”

But that’s all about to change soon. A new multi-use path for people to bike, walk, and use to get around is currently in the works. It’s something town leaders like Mayor Teresa Batts and Mayor Pro-Tem Jeremy Shugarts say has been in the works for years.

“This is something that we have heard for many years coming that we need a safe place for us to walk, a place for us to run a place for us to bike a place for our children to feel safe,” said Mayor Batts.

The path will start behind the Lowe’s on Highway 17 and run along Highway 210 to the island.

“We want to connect our city and provide that, that environment of health, safety, and wellness,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Shugarts. “It’s going to be amazing.”

As for how much it’s going to cost? That number hasn’t been set quite yet. The project is still in its early planning stages.

“It’s gonna come with a price tag, of course,” said Shugarts. “We’re going to do the best we can with little impact financially on our taxpayers to get this job done.”

But Rock says it shouldn’t have much opposition, given the positive impact it will have.

“It was wishful thinking, the area really does need it,” said Rock.

Rock says the project is going to make Surf City – a better and safer place to live.

Currently, a committee is working to determine what kind of amenities will be available along the path. That could be anything from drinking fountains to park benches and call boxes.

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