THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO IS CONSIDERING USING MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE CITY’S HOLLOW SIDEWALKS. YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE SIDEWALKS? WELL, IN THE 1860S, WHEN PARTS OF SACRAMENTO WERE RAISED, NEW SIDEWALKS WERE CONSTRUCTED ON SUPPORT SYSTEMS OVER THE OLD GROUND, CREATING HOLLOW SIDEWALKS. SOME AREAS STILL HAVE THESE HOLLOW SIDEWALKS, PRIMARILY IN OLD AND DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS A PROGRAM TO MONITOR THEM. ON TUESDAY, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON A $1.2 MILLION PROJECT TO REPAIR THEM. MOST FOLKS DON’T REALIZE WHEN YOU’RE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALKS, THERE ARE PLACES THAT ARE COMPLETELY HOLLOW. THERE ARE PLACES LIKE WHAT YOU CAN SEE THROUGH HERE THAT ARE THE ORIGINAL. YOU KNOW, 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURY STRUCTURES THAT HAVE JUST BEEN LEVELED UP. AN
Sacramento considers $1.2 million project to repair historic hollow sidewalks
Updated: 8:04 AM PDT Mar 21, 2026
Sacramento is considering a $1.2 million project to inspect and repair its historic hollow sidewalks, which are primarily found in Old Sacramento and downtown areas.In the 1860s, when parts of Sacramento were raised, new sidewalks were constructed on support systems over the old ground, creating hollow sidewalks. The city currently has a program to monitor them, and on Tuesday, the city council will vote on the proposed project to repair these sidewalks.”What most folks don’t realize is that when you’re walking that there are places that are completely hollow,” Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said. “There are places where they are the original 18th and 19th century structures that have just been leveled up.”Currently, if a hollow sidewalk needs repair, it is the responsibility of the property owner to fix them.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento is considering a $1.2 million project to inspect and repair its historic hollow sidewalks, which are primarily found in Old Sacramento and downtown areas.
In the 1860s, when parts of Sacramento were raised, new sidewalks were constructed on support systems over the old ground, creating hollow sidewalks. The city currently has a program to monitor them, and on Tuesday, the city council will vote on the proposed project to repair these sidewalks.
“What most folks don’t realize is that when you’re walking that there are places that are completely hollow,” Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum said. “There are places where they are the original 18th and 19th century structures that have just been leveled up.”
Currently, if a hollow sidewalk needs repair, it is the responsibility of the property owner to fix them.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel