While it's not unusual for recently constructed sidewalks to buckle in the heat, the number of faults in the sidewalk along Cedar Street since it was installed in 2013 is unusual, said City of Batavia Public Works Director Matt Worth.
It's also unexplainable.
Worth -- wasn't appointed public works director until after the project was completed -- indicated a combination of factors could cause the buckling, including the spacing of the joints, the nature of the subsurface, and the chemistry of the cement.
The buckling is caused by the cement expanding in the heat of the sun beating down on the pavement.
It's been an issue ever since the project was completed, Worth said. While there are as many as six buckle points along the path now, eventually, the issue will resolve itself as repairs are made and pressure is relieved on the cement.
There's nothing to suggest, Worth said, that the contractor who installed the sidewalks, shares any liability.
City crews will repair the broken sections, he said, at a fraction of the cost of hiring a contractor to do the work.
