ELYRIA — Next year, the city hopes to get double or triple its usual amount of money from the state’s Issue 2 program, which will pave the way for more road projects.

 

PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR 2009 1. Gulf Road from Whitman Boulevard to Hilltop Park, including slope stabilization and road widening. 2. West River Road culvert repair. 3. South Abbe Road from the railroad tracks to University Avenue, including extension of left turn lane and road widening. 4. Murray Ridge Road, including road widening. 5. West River Road North concrete repairs. 6. Ford Road bridge repairs and deck replacements. 7. Washington Avenue from bridge to Ohio Street, Columbus Street from Glenwood Street to St. Clair Street, Ohio Street from Glenwood Street to St. Clair Street and St. Clair Street from Ohio Street to Hamilton Avenue. 8. Clark Street from East River Street to Winckles Street. 9. Fourth Street from West Avenue to East River Street, Second Street from West Avenue to Gateway Boulevard, Third Street from West Avenue to Gateway Boulevard and East Avenue from Fourth Street to Broad Street. 10. Carol Lane from Bayberry Drive to Defiance Avenue. 11. Georgetown Street. 12. 16th Street from West Avenue to East Avenue. 13. Canterbury Court and Canterbury Road. 14. Bell Avenue from Lake Avenue to Clemans Avenue. 15. Stanford Avenue from East River Street to Garford Avenue and Miami Avenue from East River Street to Park Avenue. (Note: Each project consists of the repair, reconstruction and resurfacing of each road unless otherwise noted.)

City Council learned Monday that the city’s normal $600,000 to $700,000 allotment could jump to almost $1.8 million once the 2009 round of projects is approved.

 

The fund, commonly used to pay for road resurfacing and repair projects in the city, is increasing thanks in part to Gov. Ted Strickland’s economic stimulus package, which includes a provision to make more money available for road work.

 

The goal is to increase the number of construction jobs available in the state next year, as well as encourage economic growth, Assistant County Engineer John Hamilton said.

 

Mayor Bill Grace said the city’s Engineering Department already is putting together a list of streets that have the greatest need for repairs. City officials will find out in the next couple of months which projects will be approved.

 

“We first heard that we were getting double — now they say it could be triple,” said John Schneider, assistant city engineer. “We’re hedging our bets and submitting applications for almost $2 million in projects with the hope that as many as possible are approved. These are mostly commercial streets that are close to schools and are in greatest need of repair.”

 

Issue 2 projects typically require the city to pick up about 11 percent of the project’s total cost, with the state picking up the rest, Schneider said.

 

Grace said the city could definitely use the extra money.

 

“It will help, but we’ll still be faced with the fact that even though we spend more money on roads each year, we are paving fewer streets because the cost has gone up so much,” he said. “We have increased the money spent by 53 percent, but the costs have increased by 65 percent.”

 

Grace said the proposed projects are mostly heavily traveled main roads because side streets are not eligible for Issue 2 funds.

 

Contact Lisa Roberson at 329-7121 or lroberson@chroniclet.com.

 

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