City officials want as much as they can to build the bike path at the same time work on Business 40 proceeds.

Sections of the path had already been made part of the Business 40 construction plans. They include a portion of the pathway that will cross Peters Creek Parkway from south to north, then pass through a tunnel leading under the parkway near BB&T Ballpark. As part of the same project, a portion of the pathway near Brookstown Avenue is to be built.

The more recently approved sections from Green Street to the Strollway carry a $2 million price tag, but the city only has to pay about $400,000 to get the remaining $1.6 million from the N.C. Department of Transportation as part of the draft 2018-27 state transportation plan. Although that plan doesn’t get passed until June, the bike path work scored well in the planning process.

Slated for construction in 2021 in the state transportation plan, the city is asking the state to move forward the Green Street-Strollway work to 2020 so that it fits the Business 40 timetable.

Even the newly approved sections will still leave a segment unfunded between Green Street and the ballpark. Also, there’s no money yet for the path leading west from Peters Creek Parkway toward Lockland Avenue.