LIVINGSTON -- On the morning of July 20, Katherine Williamson, a 30-year resident on Ninth Street, woke up to the surprising sound of a backhoe on her usually quiet street.
A crew from the Public Works Department was tearing out sections of uneven, broken sidewalk that had been blamed for tripping people.
Williamson was excited that action was being taken on the dilapidated sidewalks she travels every morning. But city officials said the repairs were part of routine revamps, and similar projects are coming -- just down the road.
The Ninth Street repairs started just a few days after a July 15 Tip List column in the Sun-Star had raised the issue of poorly maintained sidewalks around the area.
However, because of another citizen's earlier concern expressed in writing, the city was already planning to improve the sidewalks, said Jim Rightsell, street supervisor for the Public Works Department.
"The article caught us by surprise," he said.
The Public Works Department broke out two areas of sidewalk on Ninth Street on July 20 and later poured fresh concrete, Rightsell said. Each section was 50 square feet.
The department often jumps around to various areas of the city when repairing sidewalks, but workers are "continually working on it," he said.
The city's 2010-11 proposed budget calls for $1,651,987 for sidewalk construction. There will also be substantial improvements for people using scooters and wheelchairs.
There are 26 proposed street corners that are intended to be upgraded with handicap ramps, according to the proposed budget.
Connie Villanueva, a Livingston resident since 1963 who uses a scooter to get around, was glad to hear more ramps will be built, but said she thinks the sidewalks still need some work.
However, City Manager Richard Warne said Livingston has some of the best sidewalks in the county, constructing 4.82 miles since 2006.
"I'll put up the condition of our sidewalks against any city around us because we have spent a lot of money constructing sidewalks and also on sidewalk repairs," he said.
The city crew commonly repairs small tripping hazards, while state and federal grants pay for bigger projects, Rightsell said.
"It's amazing what the city has done through grants," he said.
More than 15,000 feet of sidewalks will be built through next year using federal and state grants alone, Warne said.
If residents of Livingston notice a section of sidewalk that needs to be repaired or replaced, they can notify the city by filling out a "citizen's concern form," which can be found on the city's website or at City Hall.
The next section of sidewalk scheduled to be replaced is along Swan Street between Simpson Avenue and Franci Street. It will be completed in four to six weeks.
Construction will also start by next week on the repaving of B Street and sidewalk construction.
Reporter Mike North can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or mnorth@mercedsun-star.com.
E-Mail
Print
