Common Sidewalk Closure Mistakes

Closing With No Alternative

The most serious mistake is closing a sidewalk without providing any alternate route, which can force people into a travel lane. A temporary route or marked detour should be in place before the sidewalk is blocked.

Inaccessible Temporary Routes

A route with a step, a steep ramp, or a surface someone using a wheelchair cannot use does not provide real access. The temporary path should be usable by people of all abilities.

Poor Signing and Crossings

Placing signs at the closure instead of upstream forces people to backtrack, and sending pedestrians to a crossing that is itself closed creates a dead end. Detours should use existing, usable crossings and be signed in advance.

What to Do Instead

• Provide a continuous, accessible route or detour before closing.
• Sign the route upstream so people can react in time.
• Use existing, open crossings and usable curb ramps.
• Check the permit for required pedestrian provisions.