By TATYANA TURNER

Repairs are slated for a dilapidated public staircase in Kingsbridge Heights. And it’s a change that’s long overdue, according to one neighbor.

For the past several years, resident Jose Oronchena has noticed the Heath and Summit avenues staircase–known as a step street–crumble to the point where city Department of Transportation crews recently sealed it off.  Despite that, residents still trudge up and down the step street.

There are 94 step streets around the city, with dozens located in the Bronx. The Heath and Summit avenues step street lead to 229th Street and Sedgwick Avenue, it is commonly used to get from one higher elevated street to another.

Kingsbridge Heights is known for its hilly landscape, and it’s walking distance from Manhattan.

Orochena often uses the Summit Avenue step street and fears that someone can get hurt at any point. He’s also worried over the safety of those also dependent on the staircase. “I would feel horrible to find out that one of my neighbors was hurt on these stairs and I kept quiet,” said Orochena. Another resident said, “This staircase should definitely be fixed, especially because a lot of elders use it.”

Oronchena has reached out to Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz’s Office, who suggested he call 311 because there were “bigger problems” the office was dealing with. A spokesman for Dinowitz said the office has no record of Orochena’s complaint. The spokesman said it has reached out to the DOT to look into the staircase and dispatch an inspection team.

However, for Oronchena and his community, the step street has an impact on their accessibility “We use it everyday and has an effect on the north Bronx.”

As of now, the DOT has put barriers in front of the stairwell and is in the process of making repairs that should be complete later this month.

Editor’s Note : The published draft of this article did not include a response from the office of Assemblyman Jeffery Dinowitz. The Norwood News apologizes for this error.