Where will the work happen?
This year's project will occur in the neighborhood bounded by the Alameda Flood Control Channel, Decoto Road, Fremont Boulevard, and Interstate 880. The project will also include the Isherwood community located north of the Quarry Lakes.
When will the work occur?
The City's Construction Inspection staff is now doing an exhaustive inspection of all sidewalks in the neighborhood. Their inspection will determine what repair work and how much will be performed. The City's Urban Forestry staff will do a follow-up inspection to determine what work will be done to the trees.
Construction work is scheduled for 2009.
Will my entire sidewalk be repaired?
It depends. The project's main objective is to repair sidewalks and other concrete improvements so that the surface is safe for pedestrians to walk on. The amount of sidewalk replaced will depend on the amount of damage done by the trees. It will not remove and replace sidewalks that have only cracks or other superficial damage.
Sidewalks that have been damaged by privately owned trees will not be repaired.
The water in the curb doesn't drain. Will this project fix my drainage problem?
Maybe. If the curb is raised enough to pose a tripping hazard due to a tree root, the project will likely remove and replace the curb. This repair may or may not fix the drainage problem. In areas where the slope of the street is relatively flat, it is not uncommon to have some standing water in the curb after a rain event.
What will happen to the decorative concrete in the planter strip?
Any decorative concrete, brick, or extensions to the sidewalk that poses a tripping hazard in the planter strip (i.e., the area between the curb and sidewalk) will be removed and filled in with topsoil. The project will not replace any concrete or paving within the planter strip.
If you have concerns about the removal of decorative concrete in the planter strip, please contact the City Engineering Department.
Why isn't my sidewalk going to be repaired?
There are several possible reasons:
- The sidewalk is not in front of a single family home.
- The sidewalk was damaged by a privately owned tree.
- The damage was not considered a tripping hazard.
Isn't it the City's responsibility to repair all sidewalks?
Actually, no. The California Streets and Highways Code (Sections 5610-5618) places the responsibility for the maintenance of the sidewalks on the owner of the property adjoining the sidewalk. As a service, the City provides the sidewalk repair project as a way to relieve the burden of maintenance from single family homeowners. All other property owners (e.g., owners of apartments, commercial properties, condominium complexes, churches, etc.) are responsible for any necessary repairs to the sidewalk adjoining their property.
Will my tree have to be removed in order for the sidewalk to be repaired?
Possibly. The City recognizes the benefits of preserving mature street trees in the neighborhood. In the interest of preserving as many trees as possible, the City will perform an exhaustive inspection of all the trees affected by this project to see what options are available. In many cases, the repair of a sidewalk or curb will require nothing more than cutting a few roots from the tree. Trees that are known to have very shallow root systems and are notorious for damaging concrete improvements will likely be replaced with trees of a different species.
A list of all trees proposed to be replaced will be made available on this website prior to construction. If you have any concerns about the proposed replacement of a tree, please contact the City Engineering Department (see contact information below).
For questions or comments about this project, please contact:
Ed Nakayama
City of Fremont
Engineering Department
510-494-4775
enakayama@ci.fremont.ca.us
