When ADA Compliance Runs Afoul of Seismology

Seismologists were recently upset by the loss of a curb at the corner of two streets in Hayward, California that displayed the power of the Hayward Fault. The city had repaired the curb to provide ADA access to the sidewalk and street.

1 minute read

July 10, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

The great power of the Hayward Fault was visible on the corner of Rose and Prospect streets in Hayward. | missyleone / Flickr

Rong-Ging Lin II reports on the outcry over a misunderstanding in the city of Hayward, California. Located there for many years, at the corner of Rose and Prospect streets, was a sidewalk pulled apart by the seismic activity of the Hayward Fault. According to Lin, the corner was considered by seismologists as "a kind of Holy Grail, perfectly illustrating the seismic forces at work underneath this Bay Area neighborhood."

However, in early June, a city crew fixed the sidewalk, provoking the ire of seismologists. According to Kelly McAdoo, assistant city manager of Hayward, city crews did not realize that they had a seismological curiosity on their hands when they performed the ADA retrofit of the sidewalk. Nothing can be done about restoring the seismic timeline to the curb, but McAdoo acknowledges that the city will be happy to talk with seismologists about other potentially significant sites around town.

CBS San Francisco also covered the news about the contested curb in a television news segment.

FULL STORY: The 'Holy Grail' for earthquake scientists has been accidentally destroyed

Tuesday, July 5, 2016 in Los Angeles Times

Environment Infrastructure California Hayward Hayward Fault Earthquakes Seismology Curb ADA Compliance View More

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