Ramp It Up

What’s going on with the curb construction?

The NE corner of North 5th Street and Bedford Avenue on May 25, 2024 after excavation. *(Photo Credit: Lori Ann Doyon)*

Over the past several weeks many have had to navigate the curb excavations that have been appearing around the community. In the first stages the curb is jack hammered leaving large chunky boulders of concrete in the curb area, the next day the chunks are usually removed. Then it’s a matter of waiting for the pour of fresh concrete and finishing touches. All the while these areas are roped off with yellow “Do Not Cross” tape and orange traffic barriers. There are also temporary ramps at the curb, however this does mean pedestrians may need to detour into the street and come within a few feet of passing cars. Such is the case on North 5th Street and Bedford Avenue. These construction zones are extra challenging for parents with prams and others who are mobility challenged.

The NE corner of North 5th Street and Bedford Avenue on May 25, 2024 *(Photo Credit: Lori Ann Doyon)*

These inconveniences are temporary but necessary as part of the Pedestrian Ramp Program.

According to NYC Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) web page: Pedestrian ramps are an essential tool for all pedestrians, especially aging New Yorkers and persons with disabilities. NYC DOT maintains the city’s 12,760 miles of sidewalks and 185,000 corners. Currently, NYC DOT addresses pedestrian ramps through the resurfacing of city streets, inspection of sidewalk defects, 311 complaints, and implementation of street improvement projects.

A screenshot of an interactive map to check curb construction progress found on the NYC DOT’s Ped Ramp Program page here: https://www.nycpedramps.info/program-progress *Photo credit: NYC DOT*

“Work is currently being done in this area following resurfacing that was done last year. Following resurfacing, DOT is required to upgrade the ramps for ADA compliance,” stated a spokesperson from NYC DOT.

When asked about the average length of time a corner takes to finish NYC DOT said, “Multiple crews work together to upgrade multiple corners at the same time. Once a corner is excavated, it usually takes 3–5 days to complete the corner and another 7–10 days for the final restoration.”

On June 3 concrete is poured in the curb. *(Photo Credit: Lori Ann Doyon)*

I’ve been monitoring the NE corner of North 5^th and Bedford Avenue daily. Excavation began on May 23 and a crew continued the work on May 24. The next time I saw a crew was on June 3 when concrete for the sidewalk was being poured and smoothed.

This article will be updated when the curb is completed.

To check on the Pedestrian Ramp Program for an address near you visit this web page.