§ 29-150. Specifications and standards.

(a)

Sidewalks shall be constructed of poured-in-place Portland cement concrete having a minimum compressive strength of two thousand five hundred (2,500) pounds per square inch in twenty-eight (28) days. All poured-in-place concrete sidewalks constructed for residential dwellings shall had a minimum thickness of four (4) inches. All other poured-in-place concrete sidewalks shall have a minimum thickness of five (5) inches.

In areas zoned for single-family dwellings, brick pavers or concrete pavers are an acceptable substitute for poured-in-place concrete. Pavers may be set in mortar over a rigid three-inch thick (minimum) concrete base or, in areas of poor soil, set without mortar on a four-inch thick (minimum) sand base to facilitate periodic adjustment to correct problems caused by soil subsidence.

(b)

All sidewalks shall have a minimum width of four (4) feet and shall be constructed within the sidewalk space at a distance of one (1) foot from the property line. In cases where a narrow sidewalk space is supplemented by an adjoining servitude, the sidewalk shall be placed in the servitude, one (1) foot from the servitude line. Upon request by a property owner, the director of public works may authorize placement of the sidewalk at a different location within the sidewalk space or servitude.

(c)

Sidewalks constructed of poured-in-place Portland cement concrete shall have contraction joints scored or saw-cut to a depth of three-fourths (¾) of an inch at four-foot intervals. Expansion joints shall be placed at maximum intervals of twenty (20) feet. All sidewalk intersections at street corners shall be bounded by expansion joints. Expansion joints shall consist of one-half-inch or three-fourths-inch thick premoulded expansion material or three-fourths-inch thick treated timber. Expansion joints must completely separate adjoining concrete slabs. There shall be no concrete-to-concrete contact at an expansion joint. Expansion joints must have a minimum of three (3) No. 10 common galvanized nails projecting completely through the expansion material into the concrete on each side of the joint. The nails act as mini dowels to hold expansion material in place and prevent vertical displacement of adjoining slabs. Sidewalk expansion joints and edges shall be rounded with an edging tool having a one-half-inch radius.

(d)

All newly constructed or reconstructed sidewalks at corner locations shall include a curb ramp for the handicapped which provides gently sloped access to the street from the sidewalk, and vice versa, for elderly and physically disabled persons.

(e)

Curb ramps for the handicapped shall be constructed in accordance with plans and specifications available from the department of engineering or with other plans which have been approved by the director of engineering. The slope of the ramp shall be no greater than eight (8) percent. This equals approximately nine and one-half (9½) inches in ten (10) feet. Since construction of a curb ramp requires modification of existing curb on the street, plans for curb ramps must be approved by the director of engineering.

(f)

Sidewalks constructed of brick or concrete pavers set in mortar are rigid structures; therefore, they must utilize the same type of joints and joint spacing requirements as for poured-in-place concrete sidewalks. Expansion joint material must be flush with top surface of pavers. The scoring of joints will apply to concrete base. It is desirable that an unmortared joint be left between the pavers at each scored joint to control reflective cracking.

(g)

Sidewalks constructed of brick pavers or concrete pavers over a sand base do not require special joints of any type since, in effect, a joint exists between each paver. After pavers are set, sweep sand over surface to fill voids in joints between pavers.

(h)

Standard brick and concrete pavers have no holes and are generally twice as long as they are wide to obtain the greatest variety of patterns. Dimensions should be approximately eight (8) inches long, approximately four (4) inches wide and approximately two (2) inches thick, Regular brick, without holes, may be substituted for pavers, but the variety of patterns will be limited if their length is not twice their width.

(i)

Pavers will require 2 × 6 treated timber edge restraints, set on edge, four (4) feet apart, to establish sidewalk with and keep the pavers from separating. The top of the 2 × 6 must be approximately one (1) inch below finished grade of sidewalk, Edge restraint timbers should be purchased in lengths of eight (8) or ten (10) feet for ease in handling. Edge restraints must be anchored in place with pointed 2 × 4 treated timber stakes, twelve (12) to fifteen (15) inches long, spaced approximately four (4) feet apart and nailed to the 2 × 6 with No. 8 or No. 10 common galvanized nails. The tops of stakes must be approximately one (1) inch below the top of the edge of the restraint.

(j)

The compacted sand base between edge restraints must be at least four (4) inches deep. Compaction is achieved by saturating with water, At driveway locations, the compacted sand base must be at least six (6) inches deep.

(k)

It shall be unlawful to construct a sidewalk in the sidewalk space or adjoining servitude until the alignment and elevation thereof have been established by the department of engineering.

(l)

All sidewalks constructed in the sidewalk space or adjoining servitude must comply with the specifications provided herein and any plans and specifications that the department of public works may, by rule, require. The department of engineering will provide standard plans to supplement these specifications, upon request.

(Ord. No. 16613, § III, 9-25-85; Ord. No. 17993, § 1, 6-6-90)