Recently the Philadelphia City Council considered a bill that would require construction companies to take extra safety measures before closing a sidewalk for construction. According to a recent report from CBS Philly, the bill was proposed by Councilwoman Helen Gym. Gym recently witnessed a pedestrian being struck by a car at 15th and Chestnut — an area where the sidewalk had been closed for months due to the construction of two highrise hotels.
While Gym is unsure as to whether or not that particular accident was directly caused by the sidewalk closures, she believes that the sidewalk closures are certainly causing local pedestrians to be placed in dangerous situations. A previous report noted that pedestrians walking down 16th street in Center City were forced to cross 16th street multiple times or walk in risky conditions due to construction.
Last summer, the city’s Streets Department hired three additional employees to crack down on unpermitted sidewalk closures. This led to an increased number of violations issued, although the number of permits issued also rose.
City law regarding sidewalk closures requires that construction companies must provide a covered walkway unless they can show that it is impossible to do so, the report stated. However, there have been many exceptions to what should be the standard. The bill allows for an alternative — walkways protected by traffic barriers. Gym is also considering a fee introduced for long-term closures.
If you or a loved one has experienced a catastrophic accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the Accident Lawyers at the Levensten Law Firm at www.levenstenlawfirm.com, www.accidentphiladelphia.com or 215-545-5600 for a free consultation.