ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Construction will begin later this February on the Johnston Boulevard sidewalk, an 18-month project designed to bring 1 mile of new sidewalk to West Asheville. The project comes as the fruition of public input from the 2016 bond referendum.

At 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Johnston Boulevard project team will host a community meeting in the library of Johnston Elementary School, 230 Johnston Blvd. The meeting will be an opportunity for community members and residents impacted by construction to ask questions about the project.

“The goal of this project is to improve mobility, safety and continuity for pedestrians and provide connections to local schools and parks. Notable user bases in this area include Johnston Elementary School, users of Roger Farmer Park and the neighborhood residential and commercial areas,” the city wrote in a press release.

During the project, expect to see:

• Temporary lane closures
• Construction noise
• Equipment like excavators, pavers and trucks

According to the city release, the project contractor plans to avoid traffic disruption during peak hours and to prevent unnecessary noise when possible.