Pedestrian Ramp Construction Around the LES is Complete

Puddle jumping on Canal Street, January 2011

Much of that curbside construction around the neighborhood that commenced last spring is finally wrapping up.

This week, the DDC completed its installation of twenty-one new ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, plus fourteen new catch basins to improve stormwater drainage, at intersections in Manhattan neighborhoods south of 23^rd Street.  It was reportedly no easy feat, as all of the ramps were in locations with complex installation issues (i.e. close proximity to sewers, fire hydrants or utility lines). All said and done, the project was completed for $1.25 million, which clocked in at 33 percent under the allocated budget of $1.87 million.

“Detectable warning surfaces, the raised bumps that indicate to pedestrians with impaired vision when the sidewalk begins and ends, were installed on each of the 21 corners that were reconstructed. Cracked sidewalks were smoothed to reduce the risk of tripping accidents, and street light poles and manholes containing utility lines for Con-Edison and Verizon were relocated to streamline the pedestrian paths down sidewalks. All work stayed within existing curb lines,” said DDC’s Resident Engineer Stephen Miller.

This slice of the project was part of the DOT’s larger ongoing capital works vision (#HWP2013MX), which has been over three years in the making.