If you are mapping in JOSM you may want to use some filters. I personally use highway = * with the [ ]E [ ]H [ ]I checkboxes active. And at the same time a big filter: “sidewalk:both”=* OR (“sidewalk:left”=* AND “sidewalk:right”=*) with [ ]E and [ ]H checked.

With these two filters I see just highways and as soon as I completed the information about the sidewalks, they disappear.

And I use the Map Paint Style “Sidewalks and footways (with knobs on)” for a nicer representation in JOSM.

Incredible work. Would you mind share your tricks you have learned?