Rising asphalt costs squeeze road work budgets in state
When asked how often roads should be resurfaced, engineers and city officials often refer to computer analysis that compiles data on cracks, bumps and potholes to determine paving priorities.
But after the number crunching, what really matters is whether they can afford it and if residents will be satisfied. As the warm weather kicks off another paving season, finance officials and work crews have been preparing.
The Ohio Public Works Commission recently accepted applications for a new round of financial assistance from Columbus municipalities who are eligible for state gas tax and bond money.
Statewide, about 400 projects are approved annually among Ohio’s 19 districts, said Linda Bailiff, OPWC director.
And while there is strict criteria to qualify, aid can vary from urban to rural areas. What is common in all cases is that each community believes that they should be a priority.
“They’re saying what their needs are (in the application). But one might be a few cracks and the other might be: ‘The pavement is reduced to rubble,’” Bailiff said.
The city of Columbus recently approved spending $9.7 million to resurface all or portions of 59 streets and install 197 curb ramps for wheelchairs, a first round of repaving for 2023.
Steve Wentzel, assistant director for the Department of Public Service, said, “We
ally like to see our streets resurfaced every 20 to 25 years.”
That’s more than twice as long as some suburbs, who also use data-driven road analysis to gauge need.
Worthington traditionally has repaved residential streets every 15 years, said John Moorehead, service and engineering director and city engineer.
But between 2018 and 2022, prices for asphalt in the city of about 15,000 have increased by 50%, with a 20% increase last year. This is requiring the city to use more preventative maintenance to extend pavement life, Moorehead said.
City officials have acknowledged that residents in Worthington have a high expectation for good streets and overall great services, spokeswoman Anne Brown said.
But rising asphalt prices may force cities and townships to reconsider how much they can do.
The average bid price for asphalt paving in Columbus has risen in each of the past five years, from a low of $170.70 per cubic yard in 2020 to $236.95 this year.
The pricing “may affect the number of streets we are able to repave in our annual street resurfacing program,” said Debbie Briner, public service department spokeswoman. “Nonetheless, the program is an important capital investment throughout the city, and we resurface as many streets as we can.”
Two years ago, Powell City Council convinced taxpayers to raise the city income tax from 0.75% to 2% because roads had deteriorated, with many close to failing.
Since then, the city created an interactive map grading each street from excellent to failing. Most now are either fair or good. But several are still in poor shape.
W hen to resurface, patch cracks or do nothing is a complicated calculus, experts say — part science, part customer service and part financial burden.
More people working from home might mean fewer cars on the road and less degradation of road surface, but those savings haven’t been noticeable, said Pat Turnbull, public works director for the city of Centerville and a lobbyist for the Ohio Municipal League.
“It would also take many years for reduced wear and tear to show up,” he said in an email response. And, he said, “truck traffic beats up roads a lot more than passenger cars and I believe that form of traffic has been growing even during COVID.”
Asphalt bids in Centerville in Montgomery County were 26% higher this year than last, he said.
Champaign County; O’BRIEN, Sally Clark County; ARNOLD, Julia
Clark County; CLARK, Faith
But fewer motorists filling up means that Ohio’s gas tax is reduced, and that pays for road work, said Matt Bruning, Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman. The growth in popularity of electric vehicles also is squeezing gas tax dollars, experts say.
The mild winter and lack of snow “certainly has been a good thing this winter,” said
ARNOLD, Julia L.
Julia L. Arnold, 76, of Springfield, passed away March 14,
2023 in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born January 14, 1947 in
Springfield, daughter of the late John and Patricia (Lahy)
Pavelka. Julia had worked at
Revco for 42 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic
Church. She enjoyed going to the casino and playing bingo.
Survivors include three children, Terry Arnold, Jr., Patricia
(James) Baise, and Scott (Alona) Arnold; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two siblings, John Pavelka, Jr. and Margaret Timmons. Friends may call from 9-10 am Monday at the JONES-KENNEY-ZECHMAN FUNERAL HOME. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at www.jkzfh.com.
CLARK (Huffman), Faith Ann
Clark, Faith A., 63 of Springfield passed away March 13,
2023 in the Springfield Regional Medical Center following a lengthy battle. She was born in Springfield, Ohio on
March 15, 1959, the daughter of Everett C. and Elizabeth M.
(Jung) Huffman. Faith worked for Marshall’s for 19 years.
She was known as an excellent cook and for her love of animals. In her spare time, she also loved working in her flower beds. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Stephanie Clark; sister Linda Hastings; and father-in-law Robert L. Clark, Sr. Survivors include her husband of 34 years Robert L. Clark, Jr.; brother John (Lori) Huffman; sisters Nancy (Joe) Newton and Penny Liming; Aunt Kathy Jung; mother-in-law Betty Fain; brothers-in-law John, Ray, Richard, and Mike; sisters-in-law Barbara, Jessie, and Maggie; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great nephews, and cousins. Visitation will begin at 11:00AM Saturday, March 18, 2023 until time of services at 1:00PM in the RICHARDS, RAFF & DUNBAR MEMORIAL HOME. Burial to follow in Ferncliff Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.richardsraffanddunbar.com.
Breanna Badanes, a regional spokeswoman for ODOT. “I’m sure we’ve saved some money on salt and overtime for our drivers. The condition of the pavement is certainly better than with the freeze-thaw cycles.”
In Franklin County, there are four planned repaving projects this year that will cost $2.1 million, said Brad Foster, chief deputy engineer of operations.
“We try to get 12 to 15 years between repaving,” he said. “Our constituents also like to have their roads smooth and resurfaced.”
Asked which communities have reputations for excellent roads, Foster, a resident of Dublin, said, “No one is bad or good. Obviously if you’ve got more money, it helps.”
O’BRIEN, Sally Ann “Gal”
Sally Ann “Gal” O’brien, 70 of Cable, Ohio passed away,
Monday, March 13, 2023 in the OSU Medical Center with her family by her side.
She was born September 8,
1952 in Springfield, Ohio the daughter of the late Joseph and Esther (Freysinger)
O’brien.
Sally was a 1970 graduate of
Triad High School. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed traveling the world. She loved attending the Qfm96 Breakfast Club, concerts, or local band shows. She loved spending time with her family; especially Easter, when she would make her famous Lasagna.
Sally Gal was one in a million, the most patient, kind, caring, big hearted and genuine soul anyone would ever meet. She will be sadly missed by all.
Sally is survived by her sisters, Carolyn (Jim) Reid and Nancy (Bill) Instine; her nieces and nephews, Sandy (Tracy) Keeran, Mike (Kirsten) Reid, Angie Instine, Matt (Tamara) Reid, Chris (Denelle) Instine and Mark (Kate) Reid; great nieces and nephews, Brittany (Adam) Casper, Nick Keeran, Jake Reid, Alex Reid, Cameran Reid, Robey Reid, Drue Instine, Dylan Kuntz, Kimber Instine, Gaven Kuntz, Bria Reid, Austyn Reid, Ashlie Espinosa and Michael Espinosa; great, great nieces and nephews, Hadley Keeran, Harper Keeran, Oakley Casper, Sydney Foster and one on the way, Briggs Casper; as well as very close friends, Carl, Sandy, John and Mary.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her aunt & Uncle, Imogene and Carl Freysinger.
A celebration gathering will be held at the family’s convenience. Arrangements are entrusted to VERNON FUNERAL HOME, Urbana, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Champaign County Shriner’s, C/O Al Johnson, 4373 Bump Road, Cable, Ohio 43009 or to the Cancer Association of Champaign County, P. O. Box 38125, Urbana, Ohio 43078.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.vernonfh.com.