Sidewalk maintenance

The City of Vancouver maintains approximately 2100 kilometres of sidewalk. Recognizing the importance of sidewalk maintenance the City of Vancouver has developed a program that concentrates its efforts more specifically in this area.

Traditionally sidewalk maintenance within the City of Vancouver consists of asphalt fillets or sidewalk reconstruction. Asphalt fillets were used to eliminate sidewalk trips mainly on a reactive basis. Sidewalks that had significant damage would be temporarily repaired with asphalt and then replaced on a priority basis. Recently other methods of sidewalk maintenance have been successfully introduced. Sidewalk grinding, concrete fillets, concrete overlays and Rubber Sidewalks have been implemented as part of the sidewalk maintenance program.

At the City of Vancouver we are constantly looking at new and improved techniques to meet our goal of providing cost effective and efficient service to the residents of Vancouver. Sidewalk grinding, concrete fillets and rubber sidewalks are three examples of how our sidewalk maintenance techniques are evolving to provide safe sidewalks in one of the most liveable cities in the world.

Sidewalk grinding

Sidewalk grinding Is an integral part of the overall sidewalk maintenance program. Sidewalk grinding is a proactive, preventative measure that is proving to be an ideal solution for the maintenance and repair of sidewalk trips. Currently grinding is done proactively. Grinders work in geographical districts and eliminate all sidewalk trips up to an inch and a half in height.

Grinding is beneficial for many reasons, from a cost perspective grinding costs approximately ten per cent the cost of traditional replacement. Furthermore, the cost of grinding is comparable to using asphalt fillets. Grinding is a permanent repair as opposed to an asphalt fillet. For approximately the same cost as an asphalt fillet grinding lasts much longer. Historically asphalt fillets last approximately 5- 7 years before they need to be maintained again.

Lastly, grinding is more aesthetically pleasing than traditional asphalt fillets. We have experienced positive feedback from the residents of Vancouver when we have ground as opposed to using asphalt as a repair for displaced sidewalks. For these reasons, from a maintenance perspective, grinding is a more proactive, cost effective solution to sidewalk trip hazards.

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Concrete sidewalk repair

The introduction of concrete fillets is another technique that is being used in the City of Vancouver. Concrete fillets combined with grinding offer an alternative solution to reconstruction and asphalt fillets.

Like grinding, concrete fillets are a more permanent alternative to asphalt. Working proactively concrete fillets can be used to eliminate trips that are greater than an inch and a half where grinding would compromise the structural integrity of the existing concrete. The concrete material may also be used to overlay sunken, spalling or cracked sidewalk at approximately half the price of replacement.

Perhaps, the greatest advantage to concrete fillets is the feedback from the public. The public, without question, prefers to see concrete used as the color blends into the existing concrete. Moreover, the concrete fillet is viewed as a permanent repair as opposed to a temporary asphalt fillet.

Rubber sidewalk

The City of Vancouver has recently completed a second installation of rubber sidewalk. Currently there are two locations where a rubber sidewalk product has been used; The concept of using rubber sidewalks is to lessen the amount of long term maintenance that is required. The rubber sidewalks can be lifted for periodic tree root trimming and replaced at a fraction of the cost of concrete repairs and replacement. Made from recycled tires the rubber sidewalk also supports the cities sustainability goals.

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