The Evergreen Avenue sidewalk project is either an unwanted concrete behemoth or great new safe path or travel for a street in need of one, depending on who you ask.
But with the controversial less than three weeks from completion, an informal survey of a dozen neighbors Wednesday indicated that there remains no shortage of opinions about it.
The general noise, messiness and abundance of large trucks on the narrow street annoyed many neighbors, but sseveral said they felt that the project will serve as an excellent improvement for the future of the neighborhood when it is finished.
One Evergreen Ave. homeowner, who declined to gove her name, said the project could be going smoother.
"I think it's a mess, the work doesn't seem too smart up to now, we've had some problems with some drainage," she said. "At one house the sidewalk is much higher than the level of the pathway in front of the property, so the owners had to build a ramp, looked a little dangerous."
"A local lady involved in real estate told me that the project would raise property values," she added.
Another resident of the neighborhood, out walking her golden retrievera amidst the jackhammers, thought the project would be a positive thing for the community and is a neccesary change.
"Honestly I think it's a good idea because you have a lot of cars on this road," she said. "Every time a car comes by you get pushed over. I think the sidewalk will make the area much safer, especially with the school down the road."
Homestead Valley local Hannelore Barnes believes the project is tranforming the area for the better and is already being utilized more than most people realize.
"With the exception of five people, everyone I personally know in Homestead Valley is elated to see it installed and working its way up the street," she said in an email. "And the proof is how many people, especially non- people, are using it who I have never seen walking on Evergreen before it was installed."
The sidewalk construction process began June 11 and is slated to finish August 16, according to Ernest Klock, prinicipal civil engineer at the Marin County Department of Public Works.
"I was on site today looking at the work and observed several people already using the sidewalk," he said. "The sidewalk is 95 percent complete with most segments open for use. There have been some minor changes to the design, like lowering the sidewalk at property access gates to accommodate private property owner requests."
A full resurfacing of the raodway is anticipated to occur during the week of August 6, Klock said. Signs will be posted on the street notifying the public of when the resurfacing will occur. Although it shouldn't take longer than two days to perform, delays should be expected due to the sheer number of trucks that will be on the road, according to Klock.
