Ohio University is overturning bricks once again as the sidewalks around Scripps Hall undergo renovation.
The sidewalk east of the building is being rebuilt to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing wheelchair access to the sidewalk. These renovations are part of a larger plan to fix sidewalks throughout campus.
The aim is to modify grades of sidewalks to meet handicapped standards
said Harry Wyatt, associate vice president for Facilities. He added that not every sidewalk needs to be fixed, and only those most problematic for wheelchair access are being reworked.
The project comes not only in response to the act's standards but also to complaints OU has received about accessibility to College Green, Wyatt said.
We're attempting to make College Green accessible from the north south east and west
said Mark Whitney, project manager for the sidewalk renovations.
Sidewalk inclines must be less than 5 percent in order to comply with the act's standards for wheelchair accessibility, Whitney said.
The improvements to the sidewalk outside of Scripps are the latest phase in an extensive project that has included renovations to sidewalks throughout College Green, including areas around Alden Library and Wilson Hall that were re-graded last fall.
While the sidewalk west of Scripps Hall is improved, walkways near Wilson Hall have recently seen similar overhauls for compliance with the act's standards. The final improvement to College Green will be two walkways between Cutler Hall and the University Gateway, Wyatt said.
We've improved mobility access from all sides of College Green
Whitney said.
Although the project on College Green is nearly complete, the next phase of the project involves cutting sidewalks to improve accessibility all over campus, he said.
The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990 and amended in 2008 and 2009, calls for wheelchair accessibility to public buildings such as schools and government offices.
We've identified dozens of places we hope to improve
Whitney said.
The construction firm, Gutknecht Construction of Columbus, is in charge of about 75 percent of the overall accessibility project. The project will cost $250,000, Wyatt said.
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Tristan Navera
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