Nothing like a close shave

By Bill Rankin

The GOKC Sidewalk Program has a fund of $150 million to be spent over 20 years for the repair or replacement of sidewalks in Kansas City. This as a result of a bond voters passed in April 2017. The most visible of the bond money expenditures was the ADA compliant corners completed several years ago.

The newest sidewalk project many residents may be seeing is called concrete shaving. Concrete shaving, or beveling, addresses trip hazards with sidewalk panels that are heaved up one to two inches–or as little as 3/8” –not caused by tree roots. Some panels have heaved as much as six inches as a result of pin oak roots planted in the 1960s. Those panels will have to be replaced with an eye toward preserving the trees. All are to eventually bring old sidewalks into safe ADA compliance.

Concrete shaving involves the use of a horizontal saw to remove a portion of the sidewalk’s surface. Electric powered carts collect dust with a high efficiency and a collection hood cover. Prior to the actual grinding, survey crews measure and mark panels, assigning numbers to each shaving area that are logged and copied to the city.

Mitchell Suppes, general manager for Precision Concrete Cutting, says the process results in a 70 to 90 percent savings over the more expensive repouring and reforming concrete sidewalk panels. Precision Concrete Cutting has a contract with the city that runs through November. The organization covers all of Kansas and Missouri east to Columbia. “The process saves the city considerable money and allows more neighborhoods to be shaved,” he said. “Instead of two neighborhoods brought to ADA compliance, we can complete three or four.”