Walking in Roxbury will soon become safer as the township begins a sidewalk improvement program to smooth uneven concrete slabs, according to Steve Senese, Director of the Roxbury Department of Public Works (DPW).
The work is set to start in mid-June or early July. It will use a new $26,000 machine called a scarifier. This one-person-operated grinder will shave down raised edges on sidewalks to remove tripping hazards, Senese said.
The scarifier will only be used on sidewalk edges that are raised up to 1.5 inches above level. For sidewalk sections that are uneven by more than 1.5 inches, the township will follow its standard method of removal and replacement.
“Sidewalks that are heaved or displaced greater than 1.5 inches will follow a similar program to what we have done in the past, which will require removal and replacement,” Senese told TAPinto Roxbury. “We are still working through this phase of the program but hope to share more information with residents in the coming months.”
The Department of Public Works spent four months surveying sidewalks across the township to count how many need to be smoothed. The result: 9,477 concrete slabs—covering about 7.18 miles of sidewalk—will be addressed in this round of the program.
Senese said several factors can cause sidewalks to become uneven, including seasonal freeze and thaw cycles, long-term settling, and tree root growth.
“During the course of our repairs, we will also check for any sidewalks that may have been raised by tree roots,” Senese said. “If we find problem trees, they will be added to an inventory list and handled as needed.”
The initiative marks a significant step in improving pedestrian safety across Roxbury and reflects the township’s continued investment in public infrastructure.
