ADA Compliant Walkways!
It is the responsibility of any property owner or manager to ensure you have ADA-compliant walkways and sidewalks safe for pedestrians. But, why is it so imperative and what is ADA compliance? Precision Concrete Cutting explains!
The Americans with Disabilities Act set certain standards which means making sure environments, facilities, and certain other resources are accessible to individuals with disabilities. Examples of who and what is usually enforced to adhere to these standards are places of public accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities.
Sidewalks must be designed and maintained in such a way that people using traversal aids such as wheelchairs or crutches will not face additional dangers in doing so. This is why the ADA has standards to guide those constructing sidewalks in a safe and accessible manner. Amongst these standards are the ADA compliance width requirements that make sidewalks accessible for individuals bound by wheelchairs. The minimum width for an ADA-compliant sidewalk is 36 inches, though they can be made wider. If sidewalks are less than 60 inches across, passing spaces must be constructed at set intervals. These passing spaces must measure at least 60 inches on all sides and must be located at least every 200 feet. Not only that, but the texture matters as well. It has to be slip-resistant, firm, and stable. So the way you finish the concrete is just as crucial as cutting to the appropriate length and width. Additionally, a sidewalk must have a slope of less than a ratio of 1:12 (meaning that for every inch of the vertical rise there must be 12 horizontal inches).
If you are constructing a sidewalk located near obstructions, such as telephone poles, traffic signal cabinets or other utilities and infrastructure, that’s alright but according to ADA compliance: the sidewalk must be constructed to allow the minimum width requirement of 36 inches between the edge, and any obstruction of the edge of the sidewalk.
When dealing with new construction or updating existing structures on your property, you want to make sure that you keep all this in mind. Our procedures make it so you can keep the existing sidewalk while also repairing any trip hazards you may have such as holes, cracks, or uneven paving. As opposed to the commonly used grinder, we have the advantage of using cutters that reach edges and are able to cut more precisely where we need to.
Precision Concrete Cutting offers a far better, and less expensive way than a replacement to fix your sidewalk and walkways bringing them into ADA compliance. Call today to learn how we can cut, shave and smooth out any uneven portion so that they fall into Sidewalk Compliance from the ADA.
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