Road Resurfacing

The resurfacing of Gloucester street is nearing completion.  The contractor (East Coast Asphalt) will continue working to begin the resurfacing of the various streets that were approved in the paving contract at the June 1^st, 2022 meeting.   As you are aware, the streets in the contract were identified as critical / lost in the roads assessment report that was performed by Roberts Civil Engineering.  In addition, a couple of streets that had significant breaches that were not on the original list were added.   The resurfacing will impact portions of twenty-seven  (27) streets throughout our community and cover approximately 5.45 miles of actual road surface.  The resurfacing will mostly encompass residential streets but does include areas around some businesses and the hospital.  The resurfacing will begin in the downtown area.  No streets will be closed but lanes will be blocked to accommodate the work.  The work will be performed during daytime hours. 

The list does include Grant Street which several citizens have raised concerns in opposition of paving over the “historic” bricks.  Much consideration has been given to the concerns but it is not feasible to attempt restoration of the street to a brick format at this time for several reasons.  One, based on current estimates it is not economically feasible.  The city has allocated $1.250 million for the full resurfacing package.  The estimated cost to restore the three (3) blocks (approximately 1,500 feet) of Grant St. would cost more than $1.6 million.  Second, the condition of the street and the current damage to the brick would require extensive supplement to be made which may not provide a clean aesthetically restored look to the surface.  Almost 70% of the street is currently asphalt and the bricks that are exposed have damage from previously milling work on the road.  In addition, areas where utility cuts were made have no brick surface and extensive deterioration.  Three, the current use of Grant St. is not conducive to placing bricks in areas that would have continued truck traffic.  Two-thirds of the area is currently “back of house” for businesses on Newcastle and has more industrial utility.  As previously proposed, we will use all of the bricks that we can reclaim to construct crosswalks and possibly sidelines on portions of the street. 

The statement was made that Savannah restored their streets.  We spoke with officials in Savannah and River St was the only street that was significantly restored; most others were concrete streets.  The investment in River St. in Savannah is very different from Grant St. in exposure and prominence.  The decision to proceed in the proposed manner may not be satisfactory to the concerned citizens, however, the resurfacing does not preclude restoration of the street in the future. 

The listing of roads is as follows:

Albany St.                From Dartmouth to Fourth Ave

Albermarle St.        From Albany to Norwich

Barbour Island       From Riverside to end

Brailsford St.           From First St. to Fifth St.

Carpenter St.          From Dartmouth to Prince

East Park                From Parkwood to Willett

Ellis St.                      From Gloucester to F St.; from J St. to L St. and from R St. to First St. 

Grant St.                   From F St. to Mansfield. 

H St.                           From MLK to Ellis and from Reynolds to Newcastle

Habersham St.      From Line St. to Community (partial reimbursement from the County)

Heron St.                  From East Park to Kemble

Hunter St.                From Hopkins to Parkwood

I St.                             From MLK to Gordon

Kemble St.              From Parkwood to Starling

Lakeside Ave          From Wildwood  to Shrine Rd.

Lanier Island           From Riverside to cul-de-sac

London St.               From Egmont to MLK; from Palmetto to Lanier

MLK                           From R St. to cul-de-sac

N St.                           From Union to Reynolds

Norwich St.             From Fourth Ave. to First Ave.

Oglethorpe St.       From Prince to Dartmouth

P St.                           From Norwich to Albany

Second St.               From MLK to Altama

Stonewall St.          From Gloucester to H St.

Treville Circle          Loop between 2^nd and 3^rd

Union St.                  From N St. to O St.

Wolfe St.                  From Monck to Gloucester

Resurfacing of parking lots adjacent to the Senior Center and 503 Mansfield is also included.   The Senior Center parking lot should be completed today. 

There is also striping of portions of First, Second and Fourth St.  Other restriping may be added if funding permits.