YOUNGSTOWN Paving of 58 streets to begin soon

Other paving projects also are happening, one new and the other resuming from last year.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The street list is shorter this year, but that doesn't mean less paving will be done in the city.
To the contrary, spending on paving is increasing by about $130,000.
A contract should be awarded in a couple weeks, and work should start within a month on the city's annual street paving project. The work should be finished by the end of August.
The budget to pave parts of 58 streets is about $980,000. Of that, $550,000 is coming from the city's federal money, said Carmen Conglose Jr., deputy director of public works. Last year the city spent about $850,000 paving parts of 74 streets.
Fewer streets, more paving: There are fewer streets on the list this year, but the sections of road are longer than before, meaning more asphalt will be put down, Conglose said.
The city is analyzing the three bids made for the contract and hasn't decided yet which company will get it.
Romano Paving of Bessemer, Pa., bid $787,000, McCourt Paving of Akron bid $922,000, and Northern Ohio Paving of Hillsville bid $935,000. Prices this year are 10 percent to 12 percent higher than usual because of higher oil prices, Conglose said.
Last year the city passed over Romano although it was the low bidder by $1,700. The city used the "best bidder who is responsible" clause in the law and past experience in making the decision.
In 1999 Romano had the city contract. There were so many delays, however, that at least a dozen streets went unpaved. The city also charged the company $30,000 in penalties for other streets not paved.
The city also has an $83,000 contract with Thomas Fok & amp; Associates to test the materials and inspect all the work.
Last year paving started and finished when it was supposed to after years of problems getting the work done on time. This year's project is on the same smooth timetable, Conglose said.
"Barring any complications, we're on target," he said.
Other projects: Other paving projects also are happening.
A $329,000, state Issue II-funded paving project is on Steel Street, from Salt Springs Road to Wellington Avenue. Work will include curb, sidewalk, drainage and catch basin improvements. The job should start this week and finish in mid to late September.
A $900,000 project on South Avenue that started last year wasn't finished because of bad weather. The project included paving, curbs, sidewalks and drainage.
Crews finished the section of South Avenue from Williamson Avenue to Interstate 680. Work from I-680 to Indianola Avenue should start immediately and take about a week.
rgsmith@vindy.com