Construction of a new sidewalk along the Northwest 288 Loop will bridge a gap in pedestrian infrastructure where a well-traveled dirt path was previously the only option.

Part of a Texas Department of Transportation safety improvement project, the sidewalk construction stretches from East University Drive to East McKinney Street.

This area of ​​North Loop 288 is home to the Denton Community Shelter, operated by Our Daily Bread Together with Monsignor King Outreach Center, where people experiencing homelessness can find emergency shelter, meals, temporary housing and support services.

The sidewalk is a significant development for the shelter and its guests, said Jenna Edwards, Our Daily Bread’s director of development, because sidewalk infrastructure plays a critical role in the safety and mobility of people experiencing homelessness.

“Many of our guests rely heavily on walking as their primary mode of transportation to access essential services, employment opportunities and other resources,” Edwards said. “Additionally, a number of our guests use mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers or canes, which makes the availability of safe and navigable sidewalks even more vital.”

Guests with mobility devices got stuck in mud or rough terrain, Edwards said, sometimes forcing them to abandon the device or take a potentially dangerous detour.

“The new sidewalk is a welcome improvement, providing a safer and more reliable route for our guests,” Edwards said. “It underscores the importance of creating a walkable city where all people can move safely and with dignity.”

Another pedestrian project on the horizon is safety improvements along the south side of East McKinney Street between Audra Lane and Loop 288.

About 37.3% of residents in the neighborhoods south of this stretch of East McKinney Street live below the poverty line, according to the Census Reporter. That’s more than double the poverty rate in Denton as a whole.

More than 12 percent of residents in this area reported walking to work, according to the Census Reporter. That’s about three times the rate for Denton’s population as a whole.

So, despite the significant lack of sidewalks along large stretches of the road, many pedestrians travel on East McKinney Street to access businesses and retailers, recreation like Mack Park, and services like the Salvation Army, the Denton Courthouse, and the Jail in Denton.

To improve pedestrian safety, the City of Denton plans to install 6,500 linear feet of sidewalk and lighting along this stretch of East McKinney Street.

This $5.5 million project is scheduled to begin construction in April 2025 and is expected to be completed in May 2026.