Innovative Sidewalk Repair Work - September 17 - 19 - Downtown Area

Pedestrians and non-motorized transportation users in the downtown Columbia area will soon have smoother, safer ADA compliant sidewalks with work being performed by Precision Concrete Cutting and an investment of $13,000 from the annual sidewalk improvement budget.

In the downtown Columbia area and in the area around Paquin Towers, Public Works staff have identified over 200 "trip hazards" where pedestrians could stumble, trip, or fall and where non-motorized transportation users, such as wheel chair users, could have difficulties.  Some sidewalks have buckled or otherwise become uneven which causes a trip hazard. (Maps of the identified hazards are attached)

Precision Concrete Cutting Midwest, the contractor hired by the City of Columbia, uses patented technology which cuts, not grinds, the concrete to exacting specifications to remove the trip hazard and returns the sidewalk segment to ADA requirements.

Replacing these sidewalk segments is estimated to cost around $45,000 and would create sidewalk closures lasting a day or more.  Using this proprietary technology, the total cost of repairs is just under $13,000, which represents as savings of slightly more than 75%, and no sidewalk closures are required.

The work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 16, around 10:00 am and conclude by 5:00 pm on Friday, September 19. No long term sidewalk closures are needed as each repair takes about 10 minutes or less. The work areas will be clearly marked and pedestrians and non-motorized transportation users should use caution around the work zones.

Columbia Public Works will look to expand this type of sidewalk repair to areas around and outside of the downtown area. Residents are encouraged to report sidewalk issues to Public Works as we create a database for future repair work. Hazards can be reported by emailing Columbia Public Works at [email protected]create new email or calling us at (573) 874-6289.