By Grant Bissell
Winfield, MO (KSDK) - Winfield city leaders, the school district and parents have been trying to get a safe way for students to cross the road since the high school was built eight years ago.
But they've run into a number of problems from some unexpected sources.
The spot where the crosswalk is supposed to go leads across a busy highway and will eventually connect to a sidewalk.
The money for the project has been there for about two years, but problems with plans and some property owners have stalled progress, until now.
After her 15-year-old daughter was hit by a car, Judith Brown is demanding change.
"They need to put in a stoplight and a crosswalk right there at the entrance to the school. People fly through there. Even with kids. I've seen it. I drive up it and they're flying up that road," she said.
NewsChannel 5 received the plans that show a sidewalk extending from Winfield High School to a crosswalk over Highway 47. Then the sidewalk would run along the highway and connect students to nearby neighborhoods.
But developers say they've had problems getting permission to use land from the local fire department, the ambulance district, and Bob Prost, owner of the shopping plaza.
Jay Gourley says an agreement couldn't be reached with the fire department, so planners had to move the crosswalk and sidewalk. Meanwhile, Jim Holloway of the Lincoln County Ambulance District says he doesn't' have a problem with the plan, he just wants to make sure it won't cause erosion on his lot.
Prost says he wants to make sure his trees won't be harmed.
Brown says it's time to get past these small issues before somebody is seriously hurt on the road.
"They need to get on it before the next school year," she said.
And according to Gourley, the problems seem to be solved.
He says nothing has been signed just yet, but if all goes smoothly from here on out the project could be completed as soon as next September.
KSDK