Mayor Sheffield kicks off massive $9.5M program to replace entire backlog of 6300 broken sidewalks replacement requests

• City Council recently approved $8M contract for Mayor's plan to clear entire backlog of sidewalk flag repair requests that had accumulated over years
• All 6300 locations are expected to be completed this year
• DPW will start with occupied residential homes first and work their way down
• City taking requests for 2027 construction season

Mayor Mary Sheffield today delivered on a promise she made earlier this year to clear out the entire backlog of 6300 locations in the sidewalk replacement program. Thousands of residents have requested sidewalk repair and have been waiting years for the broken sections of sidewalk in front of their homes to be replaced. Mayor Sheffield joined with happy residents as work continued today with DPW contractors pouring new sidewalks along Murray Hill and Fargo Street in the Greenfield Neighborhood.

The program is funded primarily through an $8 million allocation in Mayor Sheffield's budget, as well as $1.5 million in carryover funds from the previous budget. Two weeks ago, City Council approved an $8 million contract to allow most work to begin.

"One of the most basic quality of life issues in any neighborhood is the condition of its sidewalks, and for years residents have been asking the city to address broken and uneven sidewalks in front of their house," said Mayor Sheffield. "Addressing the entire backlog of requests is one way my administration is showing that every neighborhood deserves to have this kind of important investment."

"All 6300 locations, which are spread out across all seven City Council Districts, are expected to be completed by the end of this construction season," said DPW Director Ron Brundidge. "Our contractors will be working at an aggressive pace to meet Madam Mayor's objective of having all of these locations completed by the end of this year," said Brundidge. "Before we begin work, we will deliver notice to each home where work is going to take place to let them know when work is set to begin, what to expect and who to call with any questions."

The notices will be translated for Spanish, Arabic, and Bengali-speaking residents, he added.

Brundidge said that the process at each location should last about a week to 10 days, depending on weather. First, the old sidewalk will be removed, then framing placed for the new flags. Once concrete is placed, it will take several days for it to properly cure and gain maximum strength before barricades are removed.

Brundidge said that a major aspect of this work is pedestrian safety. "We see residents too often taking walks in the street to avoid uneven sidewalks," said Brundidge. "We hope that these repairs will encourage pedestrians to keep to the sidewalks, which are safely away from vehicle traffic."

Brundidge said the contracted work will be monitored by inspectors from the City Engineering Division. They will evaluate the quality of the concrete; ensure that it's poured correctly and that it's ADA compliant. He also added that any underground private sprinkler system, which are often around or near the sidewalk, that are damaged during construction will be repaired or replaced by the city at no cost to the residents. The residents will have to fill out some paperwork to document the damage and make the claim.

DPW will prioritize replacing damaged sidewalks in front of occupied residential homes first, before moving to side lots and other remaining locations.

The Sidewalk Replacement Program is a free service for residents whose sidewalk has been damaged by city authorized work being done, tree roots that are between the curb and sidewalk, and other criteria that are required before a sidewalk can be replaced.