Officials in New Cumberland have been working to make their sidewalks handicapped-accessible for two years and still nothing has gotten done.


Special diamond-shaped markings in the concrete have acted as a snag.


At first, they don't look like anything special. In fact, they are so worn down, they can't even be read. They say "WPA," short for Works Progress Administration.


"Right after the Depression, it was to create jobs, to get people back to work. Well, those are historical," said Mayor Richard Blackwell.


Because of their significance, Blackwell said the diamonds have to be preserved in accordance with the state and the city now has to wait for an approved plan.


"Rightfully so. I'd be the last person to argue that the little (diamonds) aren't historical because they most definitely are," he said.


However, Blackwell said most of the diamonds are in the middle of the sidewalk and would not be disrupted by his plan to lower the curbs for wheelchairs and install these tactile pads for the visually impaired at the intersections along Second Avenue.


"If we have to take one out, we'll preserve it. We'll put it back in the new sidewalk if that's what they want us to do. Anything to get the project going," said Blackwell.


Blackwell said he has not gotten any type of information from the state and the only thing they can do is continue to wait. Blackwell added that he will be at a statewide meeting this weekend and he hopes to get some answers then.