Lorne Avenue residents were up to their ankles in rainwater Friday night.

It's nothing new to the area in lower Hammond, just south of the railway tracks, but on Friday, residents were angry that a promised raised sidewalk was morphing into a flat walkway they feel will be dangerous for pedestrians.

The narrow road which is one of two entrances to lower Hammond, is being widened.

But residents were under the impression, based on a public information session and information on the District of Maple Ridge's website that they were getting a raised sidewalk.

Now, they've been informed they will only be getting a one-and-a-half-metre paved sidewalk that will be separated by a painted line from the busy road.

"It isn't anywhere near a sidewalk," said Lorne Avenue resident Len Turner.

Turner said he worries about the kids who walk along the roadway with their iPods and telephones, not paying attention to traffic. Without a raised sidewalk, they are in danger of being hit by traffic, Turner said.

Hammond resident and father Dean Hajum said with the school emphasizing walking to school, this won't help getting there safely.

Turner has lived on Lorne Avenue for more than 30 years and he said while his property taxes have gone up from $300 a year to $2,600, but his side of the tracks have never gotten much attention.

Several Hammond residents went to a public information meeting last week, which was when they found out of the changes.

The problem with a raised sidewalk, however, is that it creates a space which drivers would use for parking, said District communications manager Fred Armstrong. This, in turn, would create visibility issues. In addition, the raised sidewalk wouldn't necessary help as a speeding car would jump the curb, Armstrong said.

Information was compiled at the meeting and those comments will now be considered by District staff. The project won't proceed, he said, until District staff meets with residents to sort out the issues.

"Drainage is an issue in lower Hammond so the solution they're offering is trying to capture as many of the objectives without creating new problems," Armstrong said.

Moving catch basins will be part of the road project, he added.