Burton said March 22 is the closing date and once the city receives the funds, the money will be placed in a separate bank account and interest will be earmarked for more paving.
City Manager Jim Palenick said the plan is to complete the “most cost effective, successful” paving project possible.
Vice Mayor Joe Mulligan thanked voters for their confidence and while paving isn’t “fun and exciting,” it’s imperative the city get its streets “up to good standards,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting.
The city is expected to start its paving blitz of 176 lane miles of city streets and roads sometime in May, depending on the weather, according to Shelby Quinlivan, city spokeswoman.
Quinlivan said the city is finalizing the list of streets and roads to be repaired and repaved as part of the project before the city solicits requests for proposals. City officials said the criteria for paving streets include the pavement condition, traffic volume, safety concerns, maintenance costs, utility considerations and complaints.
The city maintains more than 621 lane miles of roadway, and 59 percent are rated as being in excellent, good or fair condition, according the latest Pavement Condition Index last done in 2017. The rest are rated as being in poor, very poor or failed conditions, according to Scott Tadych, public works and utilities director.
He said the cost per lane mile to pave streets is between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the street’s condition.
“We’re really excited about this project,” he said.
TIMELINE FOR MIDDLETOWN PAVING PROJECT
Nov. 3, 2020: Middletown voters passed a 0.25% increase to the city income tax for the next 10 years
March 2: Financing approved by City Council
March 2: Paving project went out for bid
March 23: Bid opening
April 6: Anticipated contract award for paving
Early May: Construction for paving project begins weather permitting
SOURCE: City of Middletown
About the Author
