Pedestrians walking along Washington Avenue near the railroad overpass will no longer have to decide whether it would be safer to use the sidewalk or to simply walk in traffic.
Gone is the crumbling concrete walkway that had deteriorated into dirt, rocks, and holes that filled with water during rain and froze over during cold weather. In its place is a new sidewalk that really spruces up that end of town more than you might think.
It was a long time coming. For many, many months the borough had been trying to get Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway to repair the sidewalk, which lies in the company’s right-of-way. The railroad kept saying no. At one point, borough officials considered paying for the repairs, then sending a bill to Wheeling & Lake Erie.
Meanwhile, during inclement weather, some pedestrians really were choosing to make a dash into traffic rather than navigate the treacherous sidewalk.
In the end, the railroad did contribute to the cost of the repairs, said councilman Bruce Ghelarducci, who oversees the borough’s public works committee. Bridgeville’s public works department assisted on the project.