Haddonfield Commissioners Approve Sidewalks on Washington Ave.

The Haddonfield Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to install sidewalks along a Washington Avenue from Upland Way to Tavistock as part of its 2012 roads improvement project.

The 2-1 vote came over the objection of a group of neighbors who opposed the project.

Commissioners Tish Colombi and Ed Borden voted in favor of the project. Commissioner Jeff Kasko voted against it.

The . Neighbors there have grown accustomed to not having sidewalks and extending landscaping to the street. The residents have also expressed concerns about maintenance of sidewalks once installed, which customarily reverts to the homeowner.

Borough officials have argued that they have a responsibility to promote pedestrian safety and sidewalks are part of that mission. They also stressed that the cost of the sidewalks is significantly reduced when including them with area road projects.

The commissioners backed away from plans to install sidewalks on North Drive earlier this month after neighbors complained. The sidewalks were originally included in the 2012 road-improvement plan.