Streets Division to Oversee Sidewalk Work Downtown

We recently spoke with Lisa LaPlante, the Communications Manager for the City about an upcoming project and its impact to residents and businesses within the project limits (shaded green in the map image above). The project, which began Tuesday, July 5, is expected to last several weeks. She provided the following information to us:

The City's Public Works Department, Streets Division, is working with a contractor, Precision Concrete, to survey the sidewalks in the downtown business area and along Nevada Way from Buchanan Boulevard to Wyoming Street for potential trip hazards (see the green highlighted areas on the above map). Precision Concrete will perform the surveys in the next several weeks and will then determine the schedule for work to grind any potential tripping hazards (raised sidewalk panels) identified that are ¼” or greater. Precision Concrete will perform the survey in the evenings/night after the majority of businesses have closed to reduce interruptions to the business operations. They will mark the sidewalk panels identified for maintenance with blue chalk.

Depending on how many areas are identified, Precision Concrete anticipates the work to grind the potential trip hazards to take 2 – 3 evenings to complete. Grinding work will be performed in the evenings to minimize the disruption to businesses. Each sidewalk panel identified to need grinding takes approximately 30 minutes. Precision Concrete uses a sidewalk grinder attached to a vacuum (like a shop vac) to minimize the dust and leave the area clean.

Businesses in the project area who have Encroachment Licenses to use the sidewalk for items such as tables and chairs, displays items, etc. will be requested to remove their items for the work in their area. This will only be for the evening that work will be done in your area.

Some areas may be identified that require sidewalk panel replacement instead of grinding.

Sidewalk panel replacements will be taken care of separately from the grinding. Sidewalk panel replacement work will be scheduled with the adjacent businesses to help reduce the impact to the business as much as possible.

Precision Concrete is scheduled to perform the survey work on evening of July 5, 2022. Once the grinding work is scheduled, another notice to affected businesses and residents will be sent.

This project will help to make the area safer for those pedestrians who walk in the project area and is part of the City's overall maintenance program, in conjunction with the Wayfinding Project approved a few weeks ago.