SANTA PAULA : Ramps Planned at Sidewalk Corners

The city of Santa Paula plans to build 176 wheelchair ramps at various locations along major streets within the next four months, city officials said.

The $235,000 project provides for ramps to be installed at all major street corners which do not yet have one, said Norm Wilkinson, city engineer. Currently, about 320 street corners have ramps, he said.

In all, Wilkinson said, the city has about 1,000 street corners with sidewalks, including residential areas, and all are required under federal law to have wheelchair ramps. Within the next five years, the city plans to install the ramps in most of its sidewalks, Wilkinson said.

In addition, as the city puts a wheelchair ramp at the corner of Peck Road and Harvard Boulevard, Wilkinson said the city plans to widen the eastern side of Peck Road to alleviate traffic back-up at the intersection.