Tuesday, May 27, 2003
Best-quality paving occurs in June, July and August, studies show.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- If these pockmarked city streets were criminal cases, they would be filed with the cold cases -- the ones that linger for years unresolved.
Many city streets have been considered for paving and then discarded since the mid-1990s as officials picked the worst ones to resurface. These streets in question were bad, but never the worst.
But like police who sometimes return to a case and solve the crime years later, the city is going back to streets that have become criminal to drive on.
About 85 percent of the 57 streets on the city's 2003 paving list were roads that hadn't made the cut during the past six or seven years.
The different approach to picking streets this year was more a necessity than anything. There wasn't staffing to do the normal road evaluations, said Carmen Conglose Jr., deputy director of public works.
How it usually works
Usually city council members compiled a list of troubled streets. Three engineering workers then evaluated those picks and ranked the streets. Councilmen and engineers would finalize the list based on how much money was available per ward.
A retirement and a resignation, however, left just one engineer this paving season, Conglose said.
Instead, Conglose gave council members a list of old roads that were considered for paving in the past but not funded. The approach relieved engineering from evaluating so many roads, limiting the work to a few new suggestions each by councilmen.
The approach trimmed at least a month off the process, he said.
Recently, the city awarded a $953,725 contract to Shelly and Sands of Akron, formerly McCourt Paving. The city will spend $1,050,000 on paving this year after testing and monitoring costs are factored in.
The city awarded a $901,995 paving contract in 2002 and a $922,000 contract in 2001.
Early contract
The city awarded the contract as early as Conglose can ever recall. He credited city council members for being cooperative. They handled their streets early in the year, he said.
The project to pave 31 lane miles -- a mile more than last year -- should start in mid- to late June.
The contract calls for completion in 75 days, but this year's contractor finished in a month when it had the job a few years ago, Conglose said.
An early contract also means the best work. Studies show the best-quality paving happens in June, July and August when the temperatures are high and the weather dry, he said.
rgsmith@vindy.com