Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wellfleet Renovates Main Street Sidewalks

New sidewalks are coming to Main Street. The cracked ones have been removed, and the heavy equipment is in place. Traffic ceases on week days so the work crews can get things done efficiently. The project is proceeding in stages. This week the sidewalks between Bank Street and Holbrook Avenue were ripped up. Not everyone is too pleased with the results. Dirt gets tracked into stores, although most are not yet open. Wellfleet Marketplace has even put a rug out, like a red carpet, so shoppers, parked out front, need not sully their shoes.

Someone emailed to ask whether the only sidewalks being renovated are along Main. As far as I can tell, the answer to that question is yes. Over the years, I have listened in on the discussions of various committees in town, either as a member or as committee secretary or as a member of the audience, and the idea of creating more sidewalks has been raised quite frequently. It is always dismissed for lack of funding. I'm really glad the existing sidewalks will be in better shape, both for those of us who walk downtown, for some Wellfleetians do, AND for the tourists. If you would like to see more sidewalks constructed, you might contact the Town Administrator and consider a donation for that purpose.

What do you think? Should all the streets downtown offer sidewalks to pedestrians? Which streets should receive sidewalks in priority?

Comments (5)

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Aren't there sidewalks all along downtown? What am I forgetting?? It seems we walk everywhere on sidewalks---at least on the main commercial streets from downtown to the harbor. Do you mean from Route 6 to downtown? Or along more residential streets? I wish there was more light as you walk along Commercial Street to the harbor because at night, those sidewalks are bumpy and dangerous, but at least there is a sidewalk (granted, only on one side of the road).
1 reply · active 728 weeks ago
There are not sidewalks throughout downtown, although there should be. When I find the time, Amy, I will ask for a map. It is my understanding that only existing sidewalks are being updated. I know part of Main Street, near Route 6, has no sidewalk. Hopefully the new sidewalks will no longer be bumpy, but you are right to mention the issue of light. Do you belong to the Non-resident Taxpayers' Association? That would be a good place to bring this up.
I wish they would renovate the sidewalks here too. I absolutely think sidewalks are essential to any town, and that pedestrians should ALWAYS have the right of way! Did you know there are communities outside of NY build INTENTIONALLY without sidewalks to keep poor people (read: Blacks and Hispanics) from coming into the neighborhood? Isn't that disheartening?
That's so cool. We have an ancient sidewalk in our tiny village, and I'm guessing it's probably far down the Township's list of things to do.
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I always have mixed feelings about building more sidewalks. I walk all the time all over the place, and sometimes it has seemed to me that when sidewalks are added the natural character of a place is changed. what do you know about environmental aspects and impacts of sidewalks?
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