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Hot Springs council weighs fixing suspended sidewalk; city, ISG and DOT dispute responsibility
Summary
Council members discussed whether to repair a disconnected northern tower on the suspended sidewalk over the river; ISG (designer/manager) offered $10,000 toward an estimated $34,678 repair. City attorneys will consult with the state before next steps.
Council members on May 5 debated whether to repair the northern transition point where the suspended sidewalk meets the on-grade sidewalk, a gap that city staff and some members said may not meet ADA standards and creates an access problem for people using wheelchairs, bicycles or mobility aids.
City staff told the council the engineering firm ISG — which designed and managed the suspended sidewalk project — and the South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) have exchanged views on responsibility for the mismatch. ISG reportedly offered up to $10,000 toward a repair estimated at roughly $34,680; ISG told city staff it does not believe the design is at fault. City staff said their attorneys will consult DOT and then engage ISG further.
Why it matters: The suspended sidewalk is federally funded and visible downtown. Council members said the issue affects pedestrian safety and ADA access; the city is considering whether to push ISG for full reimbursement or proceed and seek recovery later.
Discussion highlights Public works staff explained two potential repair options discussed with ISG: build a curb bump-out toward the roadway (which would remove a parking space and push pedestrians closer to traffic) or cut 10 feet from a parapet wall and extend the sidewalk north, cantilevering over the river to create a continuous path. Staff said the cantilevered extension — their preferred repair — carries an estimated cost in the mid-thirty-thousands.
Council members and staff described a long-running exchange: the problem was identified in late summer/early fall; ISG has questioned whether it was a design defect while DOT continues to provide input. The city has not yet accepted ISG’s $10,000 offer and told council it prefers to have attorneys pursue a resolution with ISG and DOT before committing city funds.
Next steps and legal posture City attorneys will contact DOT to better understand federal design and ADA criteria and to gather documentation that can inform discussions with ISG. Council members asked staff to avoid signing any release that would foreclose recovery and signaled a willingness to require ISG to cover the cost if legal review supports that position. If the council decides to repair the sidewalk without ISG’s full participation, staff warned repair costs could be approximately $24,678–$34,680 to the city after ISG’s partial offer.
Ending: The council did not direct immediate repairs; it asked staff and the city attorney to continue discussions with DOT and ISG and to bring options and legal advice back to the council for a future decision.
