City sidewalk project passes halfway mark

With fall on the north country's doorstep, progress made by the city's sidewalk replacement crew this summer dots a square block on the north side. The work left to be done also is pretty apparent.

Tuesday morning, a drive-by inspection showed crews still were working along the 600 block of Davidson Street. An area where about six blocks had been removed but not yet replaced left a gap in the walkway.

City Engineer Kurt W. Hauk, whose department oversees the city sidewalk assessment program, said workers this summer are replacing 4,160 square feet of sidewalk along portions of Curtis, Davidson, LeRay, West Lynde and West Main streets. The area includes properties owned by Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Day Care, 320 W. Lynde St., and the Disabled Persons Action Organization, 617 Davidson St.

"They're about 60 percent done," he said. "By the end of September they'll finish up, and we'll look at giving a presentation about the next district to the City Council."

The city annually chooses high-traffic neighborhoods, or districts, where decrepit sidewalks hinder pedestrian travel. Property owners within those districts can either have the city replace the walks at a subsidized rate of $5.25 per square foot or hire a contractor to perform the work.

The $200,000 budgeted for the current fiscal year is expected to pay for sidewalk work this summer and work completed up to June 30 of next year.

Last spring, in the 2009-10 fiscal year, the crew replaced 4,268 square feet of concrete — about 1,000 feet of typical city sidewalk — on properties owned by the First Church of the Nazarene, 535 Thompson Blvd., and Degel Israel Synagogue, 557 Thompson Blvd.

Without being able to provide specific costs until work is complete this summer, Mr. Hauk said this summer's district has not been technically challenging.

"We've gotten into some driveways and curbing here and there," he said. "But there's no retaining walls. It's some pretty straight sidewalk."

In 2008, the crew was forced to install retaining walls on some properties along LeRay Street, driving up the per-foot cost of the district.

SIDEWALK SERENADE

Public Works is replacing sidewalks in these areas:

■ Curtis Street, 500 block: 272 square feet

/ Davidson Street, 500 block: 400 square feet

/ LeRay Street, 500 block: 240 square feet

/ West Lynde Street, 300 block: 3,040 square feet

/ West Main Street, 300 block: 208 square feet