Sidewalk Repair Program

Charter Township of Canton

Engineering Services

Sidewalk Repair Program

History

⚫ Canton lost a landmark case at the Michigan Supreme

Court level in 1997.

⚫ The Supreme Court has determined that Townships are

responsible for maintenance of sidewalks located within

a public right-of-way (ROW).

⚫ The sidewalk ordinance and repair program was

implemented in 1999 to reduce our liability from injury

claims and improve the appearance of the community.

Sidewalk Repair Program

History

⚫ The program began with inspection of the oldestsubdivisions platted in the Township. In the later yearswe consolidated subdivisions by area.

⚫ The first cycle of the program covered 16 years. Wehave inspected sidewalks in all 154 platted subdivisions,totaling 16,353 parcels.

⚫ The second cycle of sidewalk repair is planned to cover12 years. Consolidated subdivision areas are depictedon a map in targeted zones.

Sidewalk Program

Scheduled ZonesSee Map for Scheduled Neighborhood Areas

⚫ 2015 ZONE 1

⚫ 2017 ZONE 2

⚫ 2018 ZONE 2 & 3

⚫ 2019 ZONE 4

⚫ 2020 ZONE 5

⚫ 2021 ZONE 6

⚫ 2022 ZONE 7

⚫ 2023 ZONE 8

⚫ 2024 ZONE 9

⚫ 2025 ZONE 10

⚫ 2026 ZONE 11

⚫ 2027 ZONE 12

Sidewalk Repair Program

Facts

⚫ Every year the Township works on three (3) different sidewalk repair programs consisting of the past (warranty work), present (construction repair) and future (marking & quantities).

⚫ Concerns about the program are typically handled as a service request. Service requests are tracked by software, providing electronic information to staff, prior to addressing.

⚫ Sidewalk inspection for the following year scheduled zone is advertised in our local paper and shown on our website. The area includes all commercial and residential parcels that are located along a public road right-of-way.

Sidewalk Program Inspections

As inspections are done, defective concrete is marked &photographed. Quantities are then measured and chartedby parcel ID.

The inspector marks defective concrete with dots:

⚫ (Red) dots indicate areas of Township responsibility

⚫ (Green) dots areas of Resident responsibility

Code of Ordinances

The sidewalk section is in Chapter 62, Article 2, in Section 62-31/38 inclusive.

The detailed criteria used to determine sidewalk repair may be viewed on our website:

www.canton-mi.org

Ordinance Criteria…

Sidewalk Dots?

Here are some examples…

Sidewalk Displacement

Displacement of 3/4 inch or greater between any two slabs.

Spalling Sidewalk

If, in any five-linear-foot of sidewalk, more than 50 percent of the surface has scaled off to a depth of one-quarter inch or greater.

Spider Cracking

⚫ If spider cracking is visible and adjoining flag(s) need to be removed.

⚫ Additives placed in the concrete (due to cold or hot weatherchanges), or used in the finishing process, may cause spidercracking.

⚫ It is possible that when removing a defective flag, adjacent,unmarked flags with pre-existing spider cracks may crumble fromthe release in pressure that is currently holding the spider-crackedflag together.

Cracked Sidewalks

If the sidewalk has more than two cracks of one-quarter

inch in width (or more) in any two linear feet of sidewalk

section.

Ponding of Water

If the concrete has settled, allowing water to pond to a

depth of three-quarters inch or more.

Back Pitch or Back Slope

If any section of sidewalk is tilted from the outside edge

toward the inside edge. The outside edge being the

edge of the sidewalk nearest the street.

Utility Repair

If a portion of the sidewalk is removed or damaged as a

result of a utility repair.

Township Owned UtilitySanitary Manhole and Water System Gate Valves

If the sidewalk is damaged as a result of a Township

utility.

Storm Sewer ManholesOwned by Wayne County

Sidewalk in the right-of-way that has a defect caused bya County Storm Water structure will be addressed byCanton Township for the safety of our residents. Onlysidewalk flags that touch the storm manhole will berepaired by the Township. Any adjoining flags that needrepair will be the responsibility of the homeowner.

Sidewalk RampsBringing into ADA compliance

⚫ Ramps with concrete defects are brought into compliance per the American Disability Act. Sidewalk ramps will not be assessed to the adjacent property owner. Ramps are considered from the edge of the curb up to the key flag.

⚫ Ramps that require adjustment in grade to meet the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (including the key flag) will not be assessed to the adjacent property owner.

⚫ Ramps that lead across into a driveway or go nowhere, such as to a greenbelt area, will be removed and replaced with sod as required by Wayne County standards, only when defective concrete is present.

Medians & Common Park Areas

⚫ Median sidewalk and common park areas with sidewalk

fronting the road are considered home owner association

responsibility. The cost for this repair will be billed to

your association.

⚫ The sidewalk flags marked within the median will be

repaired and brought into compliance to meet the ADA

Accessibility Guidelines.

⚫ Ramps located along common park areas are

considered home owner association responsibility.

Sidewalk Approach Apron

It is the duty of every owner

of property to maintain and

keep sidewalks and driveway

approaches in a condition

reasonably safe for public

travel.

Sidewalk Repair ProgramIncorporating a Master Gap Plan

History

• In late 1999 to early 2000, a committee of sidewalk

members came together prioritizing missing links of

sidewalk. The exception on that list of missing

sidewalk, were areas under active development.

• Between 2001 thru 2014 the Township completed

approximately 6,000 flags/slabs of sidewalk gap.

That equates to about 6 miles.

Sidewalk Repair ProgramIncorporating a Master Gap Plan

Facts

• Locations of missing sidewalk links on worn paths

are reported and placed on a list.

• The list, depicting missing sidewalk link locations,

denote gaps that are “to remain” and those that

are “to be installed”.

• A master gap plan from the list will be utilized to

establish future installation for projects under review,

approval or building permit application.

• A map that indicates some of these locations is

located on our website.

Sidewalk Repair Program

Notification

⚫ Public notification for the necessity of repairs isadvertised.

⚫ Estimate letters are mailed in February/March to thehomeowner containing information about quantities andunit prices.

⚫ Estimate letters include notification of the public hearingdate, homeowner responsibility, the contractor chosen,construction information including contact numbers andinformation that can be viewed on our website.

Sidewalk Repair Program

What happens next?

The Resident or Business Owner will have 60 days from the date of the Public Hearing to perform one of the following:

⚫ Replace the sidewalk marked with green dots. All work must meetCanton Township Standards. Contractors must obtain a permit andinspection from the Canton Township Building & Inspection ServicesDivision and obtain a Wayne County Permit for work within the right-of-way (ROW). This work must be done prior to Memorial Day.

⚫ Do nothing and Canton will repair the sidewalk and invoice theresident for the work performed. Canton will have a contractorperform the work during the months of May, June and July. Invoicesfor that work will be mailed in the fall or winter.

Construction

On June 1st or earlier sidewalk construction repair will

begin with an anticipated completion the end of July.

The Contractor may start with work left from last year

or miscellaneous areas prior to June 1st.

Sidewalk Program Conclusion

⚫ The sidewalk repair program effectively corrects sidewalk defects.

⚫ Defects occur due to age deterioration, cracking, disintegration, rootlifting and construction work activities.

⚫ Repairing these defects provides safe pedestrian travel for ourresidents, in a beautiful community that they and their children canenjoy for years!