The Town of Columbus recently made its downtown sidewalks safer by having hazardous areas repaired.
Columbus Town Council met Thursday, June 21 and reviewed the project, which was completed on Thursday, June 14.
The town spent $11,132, hiring Precision Safe Sidewalks to repair 193 sidewalk hazards. Precision Safe Sidewalks specializes in repairing trip hazards. The town also made repairs to curbs downtown along Ward, Walker, S. Peak and Mills streets.
Town manager Jonathan Kanipe said by repairing the sidewalks instead of removing and replacing them, the town saved $41,718.
“I was very pleased with the work and how quickly they completed it,” Kanipe told town council. “It was a day and a half and they were done.”
Council approved the sidewalk repair project during its May meeting at a cost of $7,861. Council also approved curb repairs totaling $550 during its May meeting.
The project initially was to repair approximately 129 sidewalk hazards. In approving the project, council asked the town’s staff to investigate having the repair company address other areas along Walker Street (to Simms Street) and along South Peak Street. An additional 64 hazardous areas were identified, with the additional work costing $2,721.
“This should make the downtown area a much safer place for residents and improve walkability dramatically,” Kanipe said.
The project was paid for through Powell Bill funds, which are allotted to towns annually by the state for town-owned street and sidewalk repair and maintenance.