Sidewalk Design, Evaluation and Management: Maintaining Infrastructure and Reducing Liability Risk
Online
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Nov 4, 2025
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Course Code: 1104-WEB25
- Overview
- Syllabus
- Instructor
Overview
After participating in this course, you will be able to:
- Understand key sidewalk and recreational trail performance features and how to build them to last
- Identify best construction practices to ensure high-quality construction
- Use methods and means to complete condition assessments of sidewalk and recreational trails to manage the infrastructure effectively
- Identify and use effective techniques to preserve the condition of the assets
- Minimize liability due to trip and slip hazards
Description
Sidewalks and recreational trails are intended to provide a safe and durable surface for the public. The primary surface material for urban sidewalks has traditionally been concrete, with recreational trails traditionally surfaced with hot-mix asphalt. However, urban areas are under significant pressure to provide enhanced treatments, including interlocking bricks, granite setts, stamped and coloured concrete, and recycled products.
Municipalities face challenges on how to evaluate, approve and maintain these products. How can each be constructed and maintained cost-effectively? How do I determine when to fix something? What is involved? What are the long-term costs of maintaining this infrastructure? How do I build and maintain sidewalks and trails to comply with codes such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act?
Who Should Attend
- Engineering and technical staff involved in construction and maintenance
- Consultants and contractors designing and constructing infrastructure
- Asset management and operations staff
- Personnel involved in the maintenance of sidewalks and recreational trails
- Inspection and testing staff
Time: 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Please note: You can check other time zones here.
Syllabus
Course Outline
This course covers:
- Functions of sidewalks and recreational trails
- All surface types and their function
- Key design features to ensure long life
- Proper construction and maintenance techniques
- Design, construction and life-cycle costs
- Methods of maintenance and preservation
- What to concentrate on to ensure maximum life
- Methods to evaluate the effectiveness of new products
- Condition inspection and monitoring procedures
- Sidewalk management
Instructor

David is a consulting Civil Engineer with over 38 years of experience in designing, evaluating and managing transportation infrastructure. He is the past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers Transportation and Development Institute (ASCE T&DI), chair of the Workforce Development and Codes and Standards Councils and chair of 5 engineering standards committees. He is a long-term member of the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC), Past-Chair of the pavements committee and member of the Soils and Materials and Asset Management Committees.
He is also a member of the Workforce Development Council and Chair of the Professional Development Committee. He is also a past member of the Transportation Research Board pavement management, pavement maintenance and pavement preservation committees. He has represented Canada on the World Road Association (WRA) pavements and asset management committees since 2002 and is currently the Chair of the Canadian National Committee to the WRA. He recently stepped down after 10 years as Executive Director of the Falling Weight Deflectometer User Group.
He has been involved in numerous national and international research, evaluation and asset management projects for Federal, State, Provincial and Municipal agencies and many of the public/private/ partnership highway construction projects across Canada and the United States.

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Fee & Credits
$115 + taxes
- 0.15 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- 1.5 Continuing Professional Development Hours (PDHs/CPDs)
- ECAA Annual Professional Development Points
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