The Department of Public Works Highway Division has received this request and will investigate.

Hello,

Years ago a committee was formed to review which sidewalks would be considered "school walking routes". The sidewalk on the west side of Nehoiden Street (May St to Central Ave) was the approved school walking route and is plowed by the Town. If you would like to discuss further please contact the Highway Division at 781-455-7550. Thank you,

Thank you for considering this issue:

It appears that since that commission convened the earth has settled in a way that makes this path on Nehoiden unsafe in wet, snowy and/or freezing whether conditions

First of all the sidewalk on the west side of Nehoiden between 198 Nehoiden and the corner of May AND the sidewalk from in front of 208 to Armen Way is rarely (if at all). plowed of snow during the winter! There is no paved sidewalk in front of 208 Nehoiden until Armen Way which makes it difficult to walk safely during wet or freezing weather.

Additionally when it rains MUD covers the sidewalk running between 189 Nehoiden and May, which in parts are below the level of the street. Consequently the dirt between the sidewalk (which is poorly maintained) and the Street is washed over the sidewalk making it slippery when wet and/or icy. As I noted below, I have slipped several times, once rather severely, in this mud. I do not believe it is a safe sidewalk in this condition during rainy or frozen weather for my young son, (or anyone for that matter) to walk to his bus stop at the corner of May.

Please address this problem further.

Highway Assistant Superintendent assigned this issue to Highway Superintendent

The Town implemented a sidewalk inventory and condition survey during the fall of 2015. A Town hired Engineering Firm has almost completed this study. This winter, the Town will review a draft priority list and seek funding at Town Meeting.

The Town of Needham Highway Division has received this request. Your request will be inspected by the Highway Division.
If there is an immediate hazard, repairs will be scheduled. Due to winter season if the scope of repair require more extensive work than a small section repair the work if approved would be scheduled for spring. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention.

The DPW has a sidewalk capital plan which is 5 years out. We are looking at having Highway staff overlay this section this construction season.

DPW may be able to overlay this section of sidewalk this construction season.

That would be awesome. I want to reiterate that some of the problem seems to be that the sidewalk is below street level and the grass/mud washes down over the side walk. Perhaps that can be addressed during the work that is hopefully done.