Sidewalks to nowhere?

TROUP-A viewer recently called us about something they're concerned about in Troup. The man says they're dozens of street corners being worked on to provide easy access to sidewalks. Sounds normal right? We'll its not.

So we went to Troup on Wednesday to investigate. And as strange as it may sound, these new additions are to make easier access to some sidewalks that don't even exist.

Several weeks ago, TxDot crews went to Troup. And since then they've been working on installing wheelchair ramps on several street corners.

But what many want to know is why some of these ramps lead to non-existent sidewalks.

So we went to TxDot to get some answers. TxDot's Larry Krantz tells us this project was mandated by the feds and is part of the Americans with Disabilities Act Program.

"Anytime TxDot makes an improvement to a road, we're required to bring those corners into compliance with federal guidelines," Krantz said.

He tells us TxDot has no control over this or the money that is needed to fund these additions.

Some residents of Troup told us that since this project began, several of the sidewalks had to be torn up and replaced by the same group that put it there. Was this work so shoddy that it had to be redone? Krantz says no.

Krantz says the American Disabilities Act requires the ramps to actually be at a certain angle to the street so that its easy for wheelchairs and disabled persons to exit. Because the street surface requires a strict adherence to the grade, in some cases making that grade is nearly impossible.

Now that these curbs are wheelchair friendly, the question of why in some places they were built without a sidewalk is still a mystery.