The in basket: After seeing a large orange sign at the entrance to the Parkwood residential development in South Kitsap saying sidewalk construction and repair would be going on through March and April, I asked Kitsap County Public Works what prompted it. It’s an unusual project for the county to undertake, I opined.
The out basket: Not unusual at all, as it turns out. Doug Bear, spokesman for public works, said it’s part of a “countywide sidewalk replacement and repair project.
“The work includes eliminating trip hazards, sidewalk repair/replacement and handicap ramps along the entire length of Madrona Drive SE. Motorists can expect short delays of five minutes in the immediate vicinity of the work. This project will run through April.
“They are mostly on Madrona and there will be some improvements on Lodgepole,” he added, then referred me to Julie Hamon, assistant construction manager.
“The sidewalk repair and replacement project is a project that the county performs every two years,” she said. “This year’s emphasis was safe-walk-to-school. The Parkwood area contains Marcus Whitman Junior High, Orchard Heights Elementary, Discovery Alternative High School, and Madrona Heights Developmental Preschool, all within close proximity, and the majority of this year’s project takes place adjacent to those schools.
“The yellow bubbled pedestrian pads at curb ramps, also known as detectable warning pads, are part of the project and meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for individuals that are visually impaired.”
They are brightly colored for those with poor vision and have a bumpy texture for the totally blind.
“The purpose of these pads is to let pedestrians know there is a roadway crossing such as a cross street or intersection,” she said. This project is paid for by local road funds.
