On First Hill, the bright orange sign announcing a sidewalk closure may be waiting at the end of a block, past a steep climb. With the fence up and the route blocked, a pedestrian's nearest legal crossing may be back at the intersection they just left.

The order of warning and obstruction is backwards at many of these closures. Drivers usually get cones, arrows, lane shifts, and advance warning ahead of a work zone. Pedestrians too often get a dead end instead of notice at a point where they could take another route. What began as a short walk then requires a detour, frustrating on any day and much harder on a hill.

On a grade like First Hill, going back to the corner means losing the climb you already made and doing it again on the far side. For people using wheelchairs, walkers, or strollers, a blocked sidewalk presents obstacles beyond the backtrack: the next crossing may have no usable curb ramp, there may be no room to turn around, or the opposite side of the street may offer no accessible path.

Sign placement alone cannot solve those problems. Even with advance notice, pedestrians need an alternate route they can use. An arrow pointing across the street is not enough when the crossing itself is inaccessible or the detour sends someone into another barrier.

Construction closures are part of city life, especially in a place that is constantly rebuilding. Sidewalks do sometimes need to close for excavation, utility work, or scaffolding. But the warning belongs at the intersection where a pedestrian can still choose another path. That alternate path must also accommodate people who cannot easily step off a curb and improvise.