When a Sidewalk Was Closed With No Accessible Route

The Scenario

Work at a building frontage required closing the sidewalk. Barricades went up at the work, but no alternate route was set up, and people on foot were left to find their own way around.

The Compliance Issue

A closed sidewalk with no usable alternative can force pedestrians into a travel lane and does not provide accessible passage. It is both a safety problem and an accessibility problem.

How It Surfaced

The situation drew complaints, and an inspection noted the missing pedestrian route and the lack of advance signing directing people before the closure.

How It Was Resolved

A temporary pedestrian route or a marked detour to an existing crossing was put in place, with advance signing, so people could get past the work accessibly.

How to Prevent It Upstream

Whenever work affects a sidewalk, a continuous, accessible route or detour is planned and installed before the sidewalk is affected, with signs placed upstream so people can react.

Lessons

• Closing a sidewalk means providing a usable alternative, not just barricading the work.
• The route has to be accessible, not merely clear for some users.
• Advance signing belongs upstream, not at the closure.