Batavia Avenue brick walks being fixed next week

Removal and replacement of a brick sidewalk on the west side of Batavia Avenue in Batavia is scheduled to begin Monday.

The crumbling walkway is being replaced from Houston Street south to a point about 300 feet south of Wilson Street. The contractor is beginning at Houston.

The sidewalks will be closed. Also, a lane of Batavia Avenue closest to the sidewalks will be closed during the workday, and driveway access will be limited.

The work, which was originally scheduled to begin this week but was delayed because of a scheduling conflict, is expected to take two weeks. When done, the contractor will then do some spot replacement of bricks on the east side of Batavia Avenue between Wilson and Houston.

In June 2009, city officials reported they had replaced several hundred bricks the previous year. Some have been in place since 1997. Some of the bricks spalled — their surfaces peeling, cracking and popping off due to water pressure. Officials weren't sure if the water intrusion was caused by road salt, or if the bricks were set badly.