NAHANT — The town has completed work on Emerald Road and Pond Street in order to make the sidewalks more compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), according to acting Town Administrator Alison Nieto.
The town had previously received a state earmark budget of $30,000 to fund the portion of the project related to Nahant Village Church, which saw improved ramps placed on the sidewalk outside the entrance to make it more accessible. A state earmark fund is typically referred to as a dedicated sum of funds that are set aside for specific projects in a town or district.
McIver Brothers General Contractors were hired to oversee the project.
The project entailed resetting the granite curb along Emerald Road, rebuilding ADA compliant sidewalk ramps at the intersection of Emerald and Pond Street, Emerald and Ocean Road, as well as the sidewalk ADA improvements that were done in front of the village church.
In order to be reimbursed by the state, Nieto explained the town had to have the work completed by June 30.
When the project was initially announced back in June, immediate past Town Administrator Tony Barletta elaborated on how the remaining portion of funds would be pulled from Chapter 90 money, which is used for capital improvements on public ways, or by local borrowing.
Officer Manager for Nahant Village Church Christie Stevens expressed her feelings on the work to make the area more ADA compliant. “It’s a nice thing to have. It’s always nice to have accessibility, it’s a blessing,” Stevens said.
Church Moderator Jen McCarthy shared her appreciation for the church being more accessible to the community. “We’re very appreciative that the town worked to make the church more accessible for everybody,” McCarthy said.
