Accessibility considerations during construction season

June 11, 2025

Accessibility considerations during construction season

Just as signs, flaggers, and barriers help drivers safely navigate through roadway construction zones, pedestrians — including people with disabilities — also need safeguards on sidewalks, intersections, and streets during construction. Inaccessible pedestrian routes in and around construction zones can cause delays, confusion, frustration, and even bodily harm.

Providing accessible sidewalks and crosswalks during construction isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s required. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), governments must provide equal access for people with disabilities. Additional standards and guidelines discussed below detail how to provide accessible temporary routes during construction.

On this page, you’ll find guiding principles for accessible construction zones, as well as examples of challenges and solutions that pedestrians with disabilities face. You’ll also find information on regulations and specifications for legally compliant temporary pedestrian routes.

Guiding principles for accessibility during construction

Before construction begins, ADA coordinators, public works and other relevant staff, and/or external contractors should coordinate a plan for accessible pedestrian facilities that align with these principles:

Keep pedestrians safe and separate from construction activities/equipment and car traffic
Replicate the original pedestrian path as much as possible, in terms of route and level of accessibility
Provide advance notice along the route about closures or detours ahead

Examples

While not an exhaustive list, the examples below illustrate common accessibility challenges related to pedestrian routes in and around construction zones — and best practices to address them.

The detour route is not detectable by people with low vision or white cane users

A zig-zagging asphalt path through a construction site is defined by yellow construction tape linking orange construction cones, barrels, and signs. A yellow arrow points to the yellow tape as a visual indicator. On either size of the path are rough surfaces resulting from construction

Problem (above): While the yellow tape strung between cones and signs shows a visual detour path through construction, white cane users need a physical path indicator at or near ground level. The gaps between the cones, signs, and barrels also create a dangerous situation where pedestrians with vision disabilities could walk between the gaps, mistaking them for a crossing point.

Solution (below): Solid barriers are more easily detectable and have a continuous surface. Blind or low-vision pedestrians can run their white cane or hand along an edge throughout the detour.

A person is walking and rolling a suitcase behind them down a temporary pedestrian path. The path defined by a hip-height orange solid barrier on the left, and a similar height concrete barrier topped with a covered chain-link fence on the right. Orange reflector lights are spaced every few feet on both barriers.

The alternate route has missing or confusing signage

A construction site on the left with two signs in front: one sign indicates: “Sidewalk closed” and the other indicates “Detour”, with an arrow pointing to the right. To the right of the sign are concrete barriers that run between the construction and the street. One yellow arrow points to the signs as a focus indicator. A second yellow arrow points to the area next to the concrete barriers to draw focus to the area pedestrians are likely to use, which is in traffic.

Problem (above): The signs do not specifically indicate that pedestrians need to cross the street and use the sidewalk on the other side. People tend to use the most convenient path (closest to the original path), which in this case forces them into traffic.

Solution (below): The wording on the sign communicates several things — the current route is closed; where to take the detour; and who to contact about the project. There is also an audible information device to communicate to pedestrians with vision disabilities. The high-visibility and contrasting colors alert pedestrians with low-vision. The lowest panel creates a continuous detectable surface for white cane users.

A graphic of a construction barrier made of multiple horizontal, orange and white horizontal planks. At the top of the barrier is a construction sign that says “Sidewalk closed, use other side of street”. There is an arrow pointing to the left. The construction barrier also has an ADA sign that includes contact information and when construction ends. The barrier also has an audible information device mounted on it.

The alternate route is missing accessibility elements from the original route (e.g. curb ramps)

On the left is an orange construction sign placed on the sidewalk. The sign says “detour” with an arrow pointed across the street to the right. There is no curb ramp from the sidewalk on either side of the street where the detour is. Two yellow arrows point at the curbs to draw focus to the lack of curb ramps.

Problem (above): The detour route does not contain curb ramps. This forces wheelchair or mobility device users to either travel farther to a curb ramp or risk taking an inaccessible step down/up.

Solution (below): A temporary curb ramp allows wheelchair and mobility device users to safely move from sidewalk to street level. The front beveled edge creates a smooth transition to/from the ramp and reduces tripping hazards. The curb ramp is fitted to the width of the crosswalk, creating a safe and comfortable experience for wheelchair users. The bumpy detectable warning surface alerts white cane users that they are entering an intersection. There are also temporary markings for the alternate crosswalk.

A temporary curb ramp, made of wood, with an orange truncated dome strip (small bumps) at the base.

Resources

If your community is planning for roadway construction that impacts pedestrian routes, please consult the following standards for signage, barriers, temporary path requirements, and more. There are federal, state, and sometimes local standards; if these differ in specific contexts, the most stringent standard applies.

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The MUTCD defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all streets, highways, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities.

Chapter 6 on temporary traffic control is relevant to accessible pedestrian routes during construction:

Accessibility considerations: Section 6C.03
Sign placement: Section 6F.02
Pedestrian crosswalk sign: Section 6G.09
Pedestrian channelizing devices: Section 6K.02
Detectable edging for pedestrians: Section 6M:04
Work affecting pedestrian and bicycle facilities: Section 6N:04
Sidewalk detour or diversion, typical application: Figure 6P-28

Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG)

PROWAG is widely accepted by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Transportation as best practice for addressing accessibility in the public right-of-way. It also provides standards for alternate pedestrian access routes during construction in the public right-of-way.

Chapter 3 addresses technical requirements for accessible pedestrian routes during construction:

Temporary and permanent pedestrian facilities: R201.2
Alternate pedestrian access routes, transit stops, and passenger loading zones: R204
Protruding objects and vertical clearance: R207
Alternate pedestrian access routes: R303

Take the next step to improve accessibility in your community

CMAP is working with communities in northeastern Illinois to improve accessibility and compliance with the ADA. Learn more about CMAP’s accessibility work, including training materials and captioned workshop recordings on ADA compliance in the public right-of-way and consider attending the ADA coordinators workshop for peer learning.

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