Residents in a West Harris County neighborhood await answers on repairing a hazardous lifted sidewalk slab.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A damaged sidewalk in a West Harris County neighborhood has become a growing safety concern for residents and after years of trying to get it fixed, they’re still waiting for answers.
The problem spot sits in the Barkers Ridge Village neighborhood near Greenhouse and Morton roads, where an uneven, lifted slab of sidewalk has caused multiple people to trip and many more to speak out.
“I’ve been trying to get Harris County Precinct 4 to take care of this sidewalk issue,” one resident told KHOU 11 News. “I realize the damage is caused by trees, but in my opinion, it’s a safety issue.”
The man, who walks the sidewalk daily and asked not to be identified on camera, said the slab has been lifted for years. He reached out to KHOU 11 News after seeing a recent report on a similar sidewalk issue in Precinct 3, which was quickly resolved following media coverage.
He said that when he contacted Precinct 4, he was told it was not their responsibility, but said no one could tell him whose responsibility it was.
He’s not alone in his frustration.
“I’ve lived here 13 years, and I’ve tripped on that many, many times,” another neighbor told us. “I walk across that every single day.”
She, too, asked not to be shown on camera but said she worries about the impact on older residents in the neighborhood.
“There are a lot of elderly here. That’s just dangerous. That’s just wrong,” she said.
KHOU 11’s Maria Aguilera visited the neighborhood and saw the damage firsthand. While the lifted slab might seem minor at first glance, neighbors say it’s easy to miss and even easier to get hurt.
“Come on now. It’s dangerous. It’s awful looking,” one woman said.
Some residents say they’re now walking in the street just to avoid the sidewalk, which they say shouldn’t be the case.
“We need our sidewalk. We need our sidewalk back,” one woman added.
“I want to see them come fix it,” said the man who originally contacted KHOU 11.
KHOU 11 reached out to the Barkers Ridge Homeowners Association, which confirmed they visited the site after hearing about the complaints. A representative told us they agree the sidewalk is unsafe and said the HOA is now working to address the issue. KHOU 11 has also contacted Harris County Precinct 4 and is waiting for a response.