Construction on the Bentley Road Pathway will begin Monday, May 7, according to Jesse Blackburn, interim village administrator. 

Bentley Road will be closed from Elm Street to the access road for Bluffton University Buildings and Grounds. 

When completed, this project will extend Bluffton’s existing bicycle and pedestrian pathway network to the north westside of Bluffton near Bluffton University from where the recently completed Lions Way Augsburger path begins at the intersection of Augsburger Road and Bentley road and ends at the Maple Crest retirement community.

The Lions Way Bentley path will connect to the Augsburger path and continue south in front of the Bluffton University athletic complex almost one mile to the bridge over Riley creek, which is to be replaced in 2022 with a pathway design included.

The pathway will continue along Kibler Street connecting to Lions Way Parkview path way exiting at Main Street. The streets along the paths are heavily trafficked with vehicles, pedestrian & bicycles.

The Lions Way Bentley pathway project will construct a 0.9 mile, eight-foot-wide asphalt pathway along the west side of Bentley Road running through Bluffton University campus.

When completed, this bike and pedestrian pathway will provide a safe, appealing route for students, residents and visitors and significantly enhance the area traffic flow for pedestrian, biker and vehicles.

This area includes students walking too and from the university campus on both sides of Bentley Road.

The project is supported by the Bluffton Lions Foundation with the mission to address community needs and enhance quality of life in the greater Bluffton area.

The Bluffton Lions Foundation has a special interest in developing a comprehensive bike and pedestrian pathway system through and around Bluffton with the goal of connecting areas of the community in ways that enhance public safety, health and recreation.

In 2009, the Foundation partnered with the Village of Bluffton to fund and develop a comprehensive pathway plan. A seven-member board of community leaders was appointed to implement the approved plan with the Foundation serving as the non-profit agency for awareness building and support, i.e. resource development.

The project is 100% volunteer-driven with the Bluffton Pathways Board providing project management and the Bluffton Lions Foundation serving as the fiscal agent.