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?
