Brick sidewalks bring gripes in downtown Salem

The city tries to repair larger problems with downtown walkways.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- The city is continuing to have problems with its downtown sidewalks, which for years have prompted complaints about treacherous walking.
Earlier this week, an 85-year-old woman tripped and fell on a sidewalk in the 500 block of East State Street.
The woman reportedly wasn't seriously injured. But police, who took the accident report, notified service director Joe Julian about the matter.
Julian said he reviewed the situation and discussed it with law director C. Brooke Zellers.
The city is not responsible for small deviations or defects in public walkways that cause someone to trip, Julian said. Julian was uncertain who, if anyone, is responsible when uneven pavement causes a fall.
Zellers was unavailable to comment. The city has endured criticism for its downtown sidewalks and crosswalks.
What's behind this: A $3.3 million downtown renovation project completed in 1995 included the installation of sidewalks and crosswalks composed primarily of brick with concrete borders. The brick is causing the bulk of complaints.
People have complained to the city that the bricks are uneven in places, creating tripping obstacles. In wintry weather, water tends to collect on the bricks and freezes, making them particularly slippery.
Spots where the bricks have significantly raised or sunk are fixed by the city at its expense.
"We check them all the time," Julian said of the downtown walkways.
But smaller sidewalk defects, like the one that caused the woman to fall, are not considered the city's responsibility, Julian said.
The city also is trying to fix crosswalks where brick shifting is making walking hazardous.
This summer, city crews repaired the crosswalk at East State Street and Broadway Avenue, replacing about 70 bricks.
Julian said he hopes that by next spring, workers will repair the crosswalk at East State and Lincoln Avenue.