New sidewalks should make a handful of schools safer soon. It's part of the North Carolina "Safe Routes To School Project."

EB Aycock Middle School in Greenville will get a new sidewalk on Red Banks Road from 14th to Charles Boulevard. Ayden Elementary and Middle School will get 4,300 feet of new sidewalk and signals for pedestrian crossings. Crews will build or repair 2.2 miles of sidewalks at Maysville Elementary in Jones County, and at First Flight Middle in Kill Devil Hills, a new 10-foot wide shared use path is going up on West First Street.

Interim Safe Routes to School Coordinator Sarah O'Brien said in a press release, “Communities in North Carolina are demanding more transportation choices around their schools. Just one generation ago, it was common for students to walk or bike to school. These projects will not only help get us back to that quality of life in our neighborhoods, they can provide an economic boost to local agencies.”

According to the press release more than $3.4 million will go to 13 projects that include constructing new sidewalks or greenways, and installing school zone signs, bicycle parking racks and pedestrian signals. Funds will also help improve intersections by constructing wheelchair ramps and marking crosswalks.