Completion of New Sidewalk in Sight Along Wenham Street

The last of the “sidewalks” to be built along major roads in Wenham is planned to be complete by next summer.

The last leg of the work is happening now along Cedar Street.

Town Administrator Mark Andrews said a key part of the project was to get a “license agreement” from the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board, which owns the land between Cedar Street and Wenham Lake where a portion of the sidewalk will go.

“The critical piece was to get the water board’s license in place,” Andrews said.

When complete, the sidewalk will be more like a path than a sidewalk, winding along the roadside much like similar paths along Walnut Road and Larch Row.

When complete it will be the final sidewalk on the Bike and Pedestrian Committee’s master plan.

“We started the work some time ago,” Andrews said, noting that with the water board agreement means the end of the project is in sign.

Highway Superintendent Bill Tyack said the sidewalk will be complete this fall from Cherry Street to the area of 84 Cedar St., which is just west of the Audubon property.

“The rest will have to wait until next year due to the loose leaf pickup which starts Nov. 4,” Tyack said.

The rest of the path will be completed next year, extending it to Topsfield Road (Route 97).

The Bike and Pedestrian Committee has been raising money for many years and the remaining balance will be enough to complete the Cedar Street sidewalk, Tyack said.