Detroit Neighborhoods Can Now Ask City To Fix Damaged Sidewalks

DETROIT — Members from Detroit churches and neighborhood block clubs can now ask city officials to fix damaging and aging sidewalks throughout Detroit.

Mayor Mike Duggan launched the $25 million to program during his State of the City Address last week.

Currently, Detroit has more than 3 million sidewalk flags on residential streets, of which approximately 15 percent need to be replaced, according to city officials.

The city said there's roughly 470,000 individual flags that need to be replaced at a cost of nearly $170 million. Officials plan to replace up to 70,000 damaged of missing sidewalk sections (roughly 80 miles) during this construction season (May 1 through mid-November).

The city will focus on sidewalk repairs in the following categories:

• Near schools, churches and parks
• Identified and requested by registered neighborhood block clubs
• Adjacent to city road resurfacing projects
• Requested by elderly and disabled residents
• Along city jurisdiction commercial corridors where cleanup and beautification is planned
• existing backlog of requests from prior years

Department of Public Works Director Ron Brundidge said that the city expects to award contracts by April 15, pending approval from City Council.

To request sidewalk replacement, visit https://detroitmi.gov/departments/department-public-works/sidewalk-program.