Lindon set to upgrade curb ramps

LINDON — City officials are working to make Lindon more accessible by improving curb ramps.

As of October 2005, Lindon had 507 curb ramps falling below current standards and needed 35 additional ramps, according to the Accessibility Transition Plan, created by JUB Engineers Inc., which provides engineering work for Lindon.

Of those curbs, 61 are high priority and will be fixed using the city's yearly allocation of $10,000 targeted at improving or creating new access points from sidewalks to roads.

Lindon will work as quickly as possible, but budget limitations prevent the city from dealing with more than a few each year, said Don Norton of Lindon's public works department.

The city will spend $232,000 through 2027 to finish upgrading all 61 high-priority ramps.

The work could be finished earlier if the city is able to attract additional funding through grants, said Mark Christensen, JUB project manager.

JUB took pictures of each curb in the city and pointed out where curbs were needed. It also evaluated the status of the curb and the level of difficulty in completing a curb overhaul.

"One of the things we look at is the condition of the concrete," Christensen said. "Because for somebody in a wheelchair — that matters."

Along with curbs that are deteriorating, if a resident requests a curb update in order to help with a disability, the curb receives a higher priority.

The five ramp areas most in need of attention:

• 200 North/State Street (south)

• Center Street/Main Street (east)

• Center Street/Main Street (west)

• Center Street/30 West

• 500 North/State Street (south).

Construction contracts have yet to be awarded.