LAWTON – Forty city streets have already received an asphalt mill-and-overlay, or are expected to by Thanksgiving.
In addition, 24 streets are slated for similar attention early next year. In fact, “We’re looking at 40 to 80 more” next year, Councilman George Gill, chairman of the city’s Streets, Roads and Bridges Committee, told his colleagues recently.
Mayor Stan Booker’s “10 Wins for the Citizens” street repair program launched last year gradually grew to 40 residential and arterial thoroughfares. The first 10 streets were completed in February, 19 days ahead of schedule. Work on the next 30 streets is finished or well underway, T&G Construction reports.
The City Council added two dozen more streets in August. Those included West Gore Boulevard from 17th Street to 11th Street/ Fort Sill Boulevard; Ferris Avenue between Northwest 17th and 19th Streets; Northwest Columbia Avenue between 19th Street and Sheridan Road; and South Railroad Street between F Avenue and Lee Boulevard.
Most of the 24 streets are slated for a relatively simply mill-and-asphaltoverlay. However, in some projects utility lines will need to be relocated, Gill indicated. The committee “wants to go out for bids on those streets in early February,” he added.
Earlier this month the City Council authorized apportioning some of the $4.7 million that’s available in general obligation bonds for street projects that “meet the criteria established and approved … specifically for mill and overlay initiatives…” The funds were derived from G.O. bond issues of 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024, city records reflect.
“Not every street needs to be torn up and replaced,” Gill said. “We need to use cost-effective and life-extending measures to repair our roads and bridges.”
Chris Serrano, project manager with EST civil engineering firm, said resurfacing with asphalt will extend the life of the streets for perhaps five to ten years, and said a mill-and-overlay project typically “takes about a day and a half to two days” to complete. “The subbase of these streets is still in good condition,” he said.
“The integrity of the roads is good but patching will be required at some locations,” Serrano said.
“Some of these streets will require deep impact foundation preparation,” said Gill.