On any given Sunday in the west Birmingham neighborhood of Wylam, people in wheelchairs or walkers can be seen venturing out into the middle of the street to get to church in the neighborhood’s busiest area.

A glance at Wylam’s sidewalks explains why some take to the street instead.

“The sidewalks are deteriorating,” said Wylam Neighborhood Association President Leroy Lassiter. “There are supposed to be these ramps on the curbs to help people in wheelchairs cross the street but once you see them, you’ll think, how could any person in a wheelchair get across?”

City officials say they are working on sidewalk repairs, but it is unclear when residents can expect to see them. Although the city has made documented steps towards a sidewalk master plan in the past few years, there have been no public updates on what the plan is or how it is progressing since last year.

Several large trees have taken root under the sidewalks in Wylam, causing them to buckle and crack to accommodate the growth. This creates an uneven terrain that can be dangerous to walk on without the added struggle of a mobility issue. While some sidewalks are in better shape on one side of the road that runs through Wylam’s main drag, Lassiter said this poses an additional danger for people who struggle to cross safely.