SALEM City still has plans to start on projects

Curbside parking and sunken crosswalks are still on the city's list of priorities.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- Two projects city officials had planned for the downtown this year have yet to be completed, but they're still on the administration's "do list."
The city said in March that sometime during spring 2001 it would create curbside parking in the city's central business district for people with disabilities.
City workers have been busy with other projects, however, to install the spaces, Joe Julian, city service director, recently explained.
But the plan to install two curbside parking spaces along East State Street near its intersection with Lundy Avenue remains in place, Julian added.
He said he's hopeful that the work can be completed in the next few weeks, before it becomes too cold to apply the blue pavement paint used to designate handicapped parking.
If the job can't be done before cold weather, it's likely it will have to be delayed until it warms up in the spring, he said.
The city planned the spaces in response to complaints from people with disabilities who said there is little curbside handicapped parking downtown that's close to the stores and services on East State Street, the city's main thoroughfare.
The city already has two handicapped spaces along South Broadway Avenue in the downtown area. It also has about a dozen such spaces spread throughout several municipal parking lots that ring the central business district.
Other issue: Another chore on the city's job roster remaining to be finished is renovation of two brick crosswalks downtown.
Julian said in January that the city wanted in spring 2001 to repair sunken bricks in the crosswalks this year.
Crews fixed the crosswalk at East State Street and Broadway Avenue this summer. Still needing repairs are the crosswalks at East State Street's intersections with Lincoln and Ellsworth avenues.
Officials are uncertain what's causing the sinkage. It's also unclear what it will cost to make all the needed repairs.
Julian said the administration wants the problem fixed because the uneven surface in the crosswalks is hazardous to pedestrians.
Julian said the repairs can be completed this fall.