Mayor Horrigan Announces $7 Million Resurfacing Program for 2019
City to pave approximately 54 miles of roadway thanks to Issue 4
City of Akron Press Release
From the desk of Ellen Lander Nischt, Press Secretary
Published: 03-01-2019
Akron, Ohio, March 1, 2019 – The City of Akron is preparing to further combat crumbling roads this Spring by laying down new asphalt on approximately 54 miles of Akron streets. The City is expected to start work on the 2019 Resurfacing Program in late April, with initial legislation being introduced to Akron City Council on Monday March, 4, 2019.
“We are in the midst of another winter season that’s been wreaking havoc on our already deteriorating streets,” Mayor Dan Horrigan said. “But, I’m pleased to report that as soon as the weather breaks and asphalt plants open for business, we will begin work on repaving approximately 54 centerline miles of roads scheduled for improvement this year.”
A list of streets scheduled for resurfacing in 2019 (including alternates) is available here; a map displaying those streets, along with streets paved since 2013 is available here. The City grades the condition of each street and paves the “worst first”, taking into consideration traffic conditions and clustering streets together to reduce mobilization costs and maximize efficiency. Funds for resurfacing are distributed as evenly as possible amongst the City’s ten wards.
The 2019 Resurfacing Program is budgeted at $7 million, including $4.15 million in funding made available through Issue 4, the ¼% income tax increase approved in 2017 for police, fire, and roadway investments.
“This year, we will be paving roughly 37 more miles than we could have without voter support of Issue 4,” Mayor Horrigan continued. “I am proud to once again be keeping my promise to the community to invest Issue 4 funds back into Akron neighborhoods and address the issues that matter most to our residents, including street conditions.”
Advertising for bids on the 2019 resurfacing work will begin in the next few weeks. Actual paving work is anticipated to begin in late April or early May when the hot mix asphalt plants fully open for the season and surface temperatures rise to appropriate levels. The entire program is expected to take approximately 180 days, weather permitting.
This year, in addition to the normal asphalt resurfacing program, the City is also exploring ways to incrementally address uneven and deteriorating brick streets. Repair work will involve temporarily removing bricks, repairing uneven foundation material, and either returning original bricks or replacing damaged bricks with new ones.
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For further information, contact:
Ellen Lander Nischt
Press Secretary
Phone: 3303752325
