Road Maintenance Update

It was a long wet winter. In fact, even spring felt like winter on some days. With 55 inches of snow through May 1 and a very cool, wet spring, the cracks in the roads have increased and exposed our deteriorating road conditions. City Council has made efforts the last several years to put additional money towards this high priority and in 2012 road maintenance funding was at an all-time high at over $7.5 million. Unfortunately, $12 million is needed annually to repair and maintain our 360 miles of roads.

The 2013 road maintenance program is about to launch using $5.5 million dollars to fix some of the worst and most traveled roads. Work will include new pavement on 12 roads equaling 1.9 miles; 12 miles of sealcoat/chipseal; and 12,500 square yards of patching. That much patching is equivalent to two football fields.

Other roadway work this summer includes the 10th Street corridor with improvements between 29th and 25th Streets. Grant funding will help make this roadway safer by reducing some of the 90 access points that exist between 23rd and 35th Avenues. Sidewalks will be installed to fill in gaps where none exist now and landscaping will be added.

Additionally, the first phase of improvements to the 8th Avenue corridor from 10th to 16th Street will begin soon. Improvements on this critical link between the university and downtown will begin with the 16th Street intersection. Decorative concrete cross walks, landscaped curb extensions, benches, trash cans, and new LED pedestrian lighting are planned. Future phases will add more lighting, benches, landscaping, and medians to improve the corridor’s feel and appearance. These improvements are being funded with the Quality of Life sales tax and a Community Development Block Grant.

Roy H. Otto
Greeley City Manager
Email City Manager Otto
970-350-9770