Sidewalk Damage
Every day, thousands of people use Guelph’s over 650 km of sidewalks to exercise, travel, or shop. Broken or damaged sidewalks are not only an eyesore and an inconvenience; they’re also a safety hazard. City crews inspect all sidewalks annually according to the Municipal Act, Ontario Regulation 239/02 Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways to identify surface discontinuities resulting in a step of more than 2 cm. Measures are taken to protect users of the sidewalk from the discontinuity, including making permanent or temporary repairs, alerting users’ attention to the discontinuity with orange paint or preventing access to the area. The major causes of sidewalk damage are:
- uplifting by tree roots
- vehicles (especially trucks) driving on the sidewalk
- deterioration due to age
Good sidewalk
Damaged sidewalk
Curb damage
Residents can help the City maintain curbs in several ways. Weeds and other plant growth can damage curbs. Residents are encouraged to remove weeds from joints and cracks in the curbs and gutters and keep the area clean.
Sidewalk and curb complaints are addressed on a priority basis. To report damage you will require the following information:
- name of the street
- nearest municipal (building) number
- name of the nearest cross-street
- which lane (i.e., north bound lane, turning lane, etc.)
- description of issue