TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation and the City of Tahlequah have announced a significant investment to construct a combined 4.4-mile pedestrian-friendly sidewalk along State Highway 62, starting across the street from the Cherokee Nation’s Durbin Feeling Language Center, passing the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex, and past the Casey’s Convenience Store to the intersection near Walmart, creating a continuous pathway for pedestrians walking or cycling west of town.
The joint sidewalk project aims to improve safety and accessibility for residents of Tahlequah, providing a safer option for students, commuters, and community members traveling by foot.
The Cherokee Nation is responsible for constructing 3.25 miles of 10-foot-wide sidewalk that will connect with the City of Tahlequah’s 1.15 miles of sidewalk.
“This project reflects the Cherokee Nation’s ongoing dedication to fostering healthier, safer communities through our Public Health and Wellness Fund Act,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “These sidewalks will not only benefit Cherokee citizens but also serve all residents of Tahlequah, enhancing access to education, work, and recreational opportunities.”
Construction for the Cherokee Nation’s portion is set to begin this year and is supported by $6 million from the Cherokee Nation PHWFA, enhanced by a $416,451 U.S. Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities Pilot program. Engineering work for the project will be handled by WSB Engineering.
The path of the sidewalk west of Tahlequah serves more than 1,000 Cherokee Nation government employees, 285 students and staff at Durbin Feeling Language Center, 400 students and staff who attend Sequoyah High School, 600 residents who live at The Pines apartments in the Southridge neighborhood and 500 students who attend Heritage Elementary School, as well as countless others who may benefit from the pathway.
As a fully funded planned second phase of the project, Cherokee Nation will build an underpass to connect the sidewalk on the north side of the four lane at Muskogee Avenue and Highway 62 to the tribal complex. Cherokee Nation is evaluating the appropriate site for the crossing near the tribal complex.
“The City of Tahlequah is pleased to have been a partner with the Cherokee Nation in this project. It is viewed as a much-needed effort to connect our citizens to the entities to the south of the intersection of Highway 62 and the Spur 51,” Mayor of Tahlequah Suzanne Myers said. “We witness individuals attempting to travel along the highway and this new pathway will provide a safer and more pleasant experience for the individual utilizing the pathway. Our community members will utilize this pathway in a variety of ways including exercise and as a means of getting from point A to point B safely. We are so pleased to be a part of this project with the Cherokee Nation.”
City of Tahlequah’s funding for the project is from the City of Tahlequah Street and Sidewalk Fund of $375,000 and $1,125,000 from the TAP Grant through ODOT, totaling just under $1,500,000 for the entire project. The Cherokee Nation’s portion will start at Durbin Feeling Language Center and stretch to the intersection of Highway 62 and Southridge Road near Casey’s. The city’s portion of the project will extend from that point north to the intersection near Walmart and Reasor’s.
The Cherokee Nation and City of Tahlequah celebrated the announcement Tuesday at Cherokee Springs Plaza Chota Conference Center, where the sidewalk will be constructed across the highway.
Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving the milestone.
“Partnerships are key to community progress, and this project showcases that spirit of cooperation. By working alongside the City of Tahlequah, we’re creating a safer environment for thousands of residents who can now walk this path instead of navigating grass or traffic lanes,” Deputy Chief Warner said.
The joint announcement underscores the shared commitment to community wellness and urban development.
In 2013, a pedestrian walking the route at night that will now have sidewalks installed, was hit and killed by a driver.