Cape Charles Council Redirects $30,000 from Sidewalk Project to Preserve Historic Brick Sidewalks

CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Town Council voted during an emergency called meeting on October 21, 2026, to redirect $30,000 from an already-funded sidewalk improvement project to the Capital Projects Fund for the restoration of historic brick sidewalks along Tazewell Avenue.

The decision shifts funding away from the town’s $120,000 Sidewalk Infill Project, which is already under contract and scheduled to begin construction in early November. Town estimates indicate the reallocation could result in approximately 30 percent less new sidewalk construction than originally planned.

Council also approved requesting authorization from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to restore two sections of existing brick sidewalk on Tazewell Avenue rather than replace them with concrete.

The brick restoration project was not included in the town’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget, and its estimated $30,000 cost remains preliminary.

Sidewalk Project Already Under Contract

The Sidewalk Infill Project was established as a priority through the town’s strategic planning and budgeting process, with the goal of improving pedestrian mobility and safety by filling gaps in the existing sidewalk network.

The $120,000 contract includes construction of 1,071 linear feet of sidewalk, improvements to one alley entrance, and installation of several ADA detectable warning surfaces.

Work is planned along the north side of Jefferson Avenue and the east sides of Nectarine Street and Harbor Avenue.

When completed, the improvements are intended to provide continuous sidewalks along these streets, improving accessibility and eliminating gaps that currently force pedestrians to navigate areas without dedicated walking paths.

The contractor has already received a 50 percent down payment of $60,000 for mobilization and materials, with construction expected to begin during the first week of November.

$30,000 Transfer Could Mean 30 Percent Less Sidewalk

Although the $30,000 funding transfer represents 25 percent of the Sidewalk Infill Project’s contract value, the town estimates the resulting reduction in actual sidewalk construction could reach approximately 30 percent.

Reducing the contract would require the town to issue a stop-work order and negotiate a revised scope of work with the contractor.

Mobilization costs would remain largely unchanged, and additional expenses could arise from modifications to subcontracts and previously ordered materials.

Based on the town’s estimate, the reduction could eliminate roughly 320 linear feet of the originally planned 1,071 feet of sidewalk.

The town has not identified which specific sidewalk segments would be removed from the project if the contract is reduced.

The funding transfer creates a potential setback for an infrastructure initiative that had already been identified, funded, and approved through the town’s strategic planning and budget process.

Alternative Funding Was Available

The town had another potential funding option that would not require reducing the existing sidewalk contract.

Contingency reserves in the General Fund and General Capital Fund could have been used to finance the Tazewell Avenue brick sidewalk restoration.

Those reserves could potentially be replenished as other capital projects and municipal initiatives progress during the remainder of the fiscal year.

Using reserve funds would have allowed the town to pursue both the historic brick sidewalk restoration and the full scope of the previously approved pedestrian improvements.

The $30,000 estimate for restoring the Tazewell Avenue sidewalks is also subject to change. A detailed scope of work and contractor pricing have not yet been finalized, and the town anticipates the actual cost could be higher.

If costs exceed the current estimate, additional funding would have to be identified.

Preservation and Pedestrian Safety

The Council’s decision highlights the competing priorities of historic preservation and pedestrian infrastructure improvements in Cape Charles.

Brick sidewalks are part of the town’s historic streetscape, and restoring the two sections along Tazewell Avenue would preserve their traditional appearance rather than replace them with modern concrete.

However, the funding decision also affects a previously approved project designed to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility on Jefferson Avenue, Nectarine Street, and Harbor Avenue.

Unlike the proposed brick restoration, the Sidewalk Infill Project has already been awarded, funded, and partially paid for, with construction expected to begin within weeks of Council’s vote.

The decision leaves several questions unresolved, including which planned sidewalk segments could be eliminated, how much it will cost to revise the existing contract, and whether the preliminary $30,000 estimate will be sufficient to complete the brick restoration.

VDOT approval is still required for the proposed restoration work.

For now, Council has committed $30,000 toward preserving the Tazewell Avenue brick sidewalks, potentially at the expense of hundreds of feet of new pedestrian infrastructure elsewhere in town.

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Wayne Creed

Administrator

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