MARIETTA - All but one of the 20 streets scheduled for resurfacing during Marietta's 2012 asphalt paving program have been completed, including some roadways that hadn't seen new pavement for at least 25 years.
There are also plenty more streets to be done as the city looks toward the 2013 program.
City engineer Joe Tucker said the southern end of Jefferson Street was the only section on the 2012 program list that was not paved due to equipment using the street for access to a riverbank stabilization project in that area.
"Because of that project, the ongoing wastewater treatment plant upgrade and the third phase of the River Trail that will terminate in that area, we decided to get the construction done first, then we'll pick up the Jefferson Street paving in the spring," he said.
Tucker said the remaining roads scheduled for the 2012 program were completed by contractor Shelley & Sands, although paving some streets wasn't easy.
"Some areas on Jackson Hill, like Dean and Oak streets, were really tough," he said. "Crews had to make multiple passes over those roads due to the steep terrain which was not easy for their equipment-but they got through it."
Fact Box
2013 Citywide Asphalt Resurfacing Project Streets
* 1st Ward: Warner Street, Porter Street and Woodland Street.
* 2nd Ward: Ephraim Cutler Street, Clifton Street, Gross Street, Betsey Mitchell Lane and Butler Street (between Fifth and Seventh streets).
* 3rd Ward: Fourth Street (pavement change near Ferguson to Cityview Street), St. Mary's Avenue, Cullen Road, Hickory Lane and Marigold Lane.
* 4th Ward: Elm Street (Lord to Maple Street), Clinton Street (Harmar to alley east of Franklin Street), and Harmar Street (from Lord to Lancaster Street).
Source: Marietta Engineering Department
The city streets department did a lot of preliminary work in that area, too, Tucker said, adding that drainage improvements were also part of the project.
"We offered to do repairs on some residents' driveways if they would purchase the culvert pipe. We had several takers on that offer, which saved them some money," he said.
Ray Street resident Fleddie Wall said he was glad to see the work done.
"They did a good job on the paving and drainage work," he said. "I've lived here for 25 years, and that's the first paving I've seen on this street during that time."
Wall said there are still a couple of areas of hillside erosion that need to be addressed along the roadway, but he's happy to see the paving completed.
"We have a lot of people up here who are working to improve their property, and having good pavement helps," he said.
But some residents on nearby Dean Street, another avenue that had not been resurfaced for more than 25 years, said the paving did not extend far enough in their block.
"They did start the paving but it doesn't look like they finished because it only runs between Ray and Oak streets," said Michelle Adams.
Her father, John Adams, who lives at 111 Dean St., agreed.
"They came out Ray Street to Dean, then turned right and only paved about 10 feet on Dean Street," he said.
According to the city engineer's office, that small section of Dean Street between Ray and Oak streets was the only portion scheduled for the 2012 paving program.
But Adams said Dean extends from Oak beyond Ray Street into a curve that intersects with Emerson Street, and that portion was not paved. He noted the configuration of streets in that area can be confusing.
"They should fix the drainage that runs down the side of this street, too," he said. "When it rains the runoff from this area of Dean Street drains onto my property."
Adams said the city should be spending more money on streets repairs along Dean and other roadways in the Jackson Hill area.
Every year city council hears from residents who live along streets that are in poor condition and need to be paved.
Tucker said while many of those roads will eventually be included in the paving program, the city develops a mixed list of streets rated from poor to mediocre condition for the program every year in order to obtain state grant monies to help pay for the citywide paving program.
"If we spend all of our money on the worst streets every year, we'll go into a tailspin with maintenance on our other streets," he said. "The mediocre streets are less expensive to pave, so you can get more done with the same amount of dollars that would be needed to fix all of the worst streets."
But Tucker said that doesn't mean the bad streets won't be repaired, noting that the condition of all 87 miles of city streets are tracked and given a pavement condition index, or PCI rating. A low PCI rating indicates poorer pavement condition, while good pavement receives higher ratings.
"My goal is to bring our composite PCI rating, which is averaging in the high 60s right now, up into the low 70s," he said. "And I believe that's doable. We want to keep the city's overall pavement condition at the highest level possible."
The cost for the 2012 citywide asphalt paving program was $536,648, which included $73,400 in local funds, $66,130 from the city's annual Community Development Block Grant entitlement and $397,118 from the Ohio Public Works Commission.
The 2013 paving program will include all or portions of 16 city streets.
The total project cost for the 2013 paving program will be $544,256, and the city is applying for a $400,000 grant from the OPWC to cover most of that project.
The remaining funding for the 2013 program would be covered by $65,000 from the CDBG; $53,856 from the city's permissive tax fund; $20,000 from the municipal streets fund; and $5,400 from Marietta College.
The college money is to assist with relocation of a crosswalk near the residence halls on Butler Street.
