South side’s turn

By Allison Brophy Champion

Published: September 6, 2008

South Main Street will get new brick crosswalks starting later this month or early next month.

Landsaver Environmental of Richmond will install nine new crosswalks from Davis to Mason streets, for $123,770.

The job should take about two weeks, said Bobby Thornhill, the town’s director of public works.

Landsaver installed the first nine bricked crosswalks in June on the north end and west sides of Main Street. That job took about 2 1/2 weeks and cost the town about $138,000.

Some 8,000 linear feet of synthetic stamped asphalt was installed earlier this summer.

The pending job will involve the installation of about 6,800 linear feet, Thornhill said. He said the crosswalks would last as long as newly paved Main Street would — up to 20 years.

In comparison, a standard thermoplastic crosswalk, though less expensive initially, would have to be reapplied every five years or so, Thornhill said.

Culpeper Town Council approved the switch to the brick crosswalks last summer as part of its adoption of the Culpeper Urban Design Plan.

Thornhill said the crosswalks are more visible and thus safer. In addition, the walkways meet all requirements of VDOT and the Americans With Disabilities Act, he said.

Town public works has also been working to install additional ramps along the curb at street corners enabling unfettered access by wheelchairs and baby strollers.

The Finance Committee recommended approval of the south side crosswalk expense at its meeting last week. The item goes before Town Council Tuesday for final approval.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or .