Mayor pledges 40-mile goal for Toledo road paving

1/1/2008
BY IGNAZIO MESSINA
BLADE STAFF WRITER

The city of Toledo will strive to repave 40 miles of streets during 2008, Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said yesterday.

"Approximately one year ago we pledged to repave a total of 35 miles of roads in the city of Toledo in the year 2007," Mr. Finkbeiner said. "We stand here to report that goal has been fully completed."

The mayor said his administration will propose City Council spend $10 million to $12 million in 2008 to repave about 15 miles of residential streets as part of the street work effort.

For every three miles of residential streets paved last year, the city paid $1 million.

"We will also increase funding for repaving major roads," he said.

The city traditionally repaves between 35 and 40 miles of street each year.

The cost of repaving has increased 45 percent during the last four years, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation. Repaving 40 miles this year would cost up to $29 million, said Donald Moline, commissioner of engineering for the city.

"We do a combination of the worst streets and as many streets as we can," Mr. Moline said. "It costs $1 million to redo a residential street but you can just about do triple that, three miles, if you are just resurfacing."

City council must approve the funding.

"Lots of streets are so far gone, all you can do is replace them," Mr. Moline said. "Most of the streets in the city are in need of repair or replacement right now."

There is some attempt to balance street work by district, but most streets will be designated for work by need, Mr. Moline said.

The mayor added that one of his priorities has been urban beautification and caring for Toledo's neighborhoods.

He said the increase in the repaving of residential streets in 2008 will improve the appearance of certain areas of town.