ADA Upgrades A Slow Process For Plymouth Public Works

Upgrades will continue to sidewalks and intersections in Plymouth.

The City’s Board of Public Works reviewed a proposal to continue making sidewalks accessible to each of its residents. Upgrades to the sidewalks are being carried out as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Street Department Superintendent Jim Marquardt says there have been a lot of properties affected by the changes.

“The bad part that doesn’t look so good on it is: when you look at the ADA Plan, there’s 378 properties on the list,” says Marquardt. “But you’re definitely getting a little dent in it.”

The Street Department used Monday night’s Board of Public Works meeting to submit its list of intersections proposed for work in 2015.

Between 2012 and 2014, 18 intersections saw work completed that allows better access for those with disabilities. That affects 98 properties in the City. Some of the intersections were taken care of through other projects.

The City of Plymouth is not seeing revenue for the projects in the form of state or federal grants. Projects of a similar nature do receive grant funding, however.

Marquardt says the projects for 2015 are currently a tad over budget.

“Once again, when we run a lot of walks together, you empty the truck out, you seem to gain, and you do better,” says Marquardt.

The intersections slated for work are expected to cost just over $90-thousand for materials and labor.

The Street Department anticipates the ADA Plan project list is going to take an extended period of time to complete.

The Board of Public Works approved the presented intersections, unanimously.