City plans for street rehabilitation program, widening

The city of Amherst 2019 road rehabilitation program will go before council with plans to improve at least five roads this year. By working with Bramhall Engineering and Surveying Company as the city’s provider of professional engineering and surveying services, Washington Street, Franklin Street, Milan Avenue, North Quarry Road and Plaza Drive were suggested as streets needing repair. “We’ll be spending tax dollars brought in with the street tax, which the city will be voting on soon,” said Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow, The program will continue as long as the tax is passed again. “We have good support for the new tax. I’m fairly confident the program will continue,” Costilow said. In addition to public roads, another $200,000 will be added to the program for additional widening of the turn lane at the Amherst Junior High School, 548 Milan Ave., and the new Powers Elementary School, 393 S. Lake St. “Working with the schools to improve the turning lane by the new school will be a big part of the program this year,” Costilow said. Of the projects, Washington Street between Sunrise Drive and Lincoln Street is projected to have its existing asphalt and concrete pavement to be resurfaced, including full depth repairs. Franklin Street, from North Main Street to Church Street, was suggested to have the existing asphalt pavement resurfaced and repaired. Milan Avenue is projected to have several sections improved, including existing asphalt pavement resurfaced and repaired and pavement widening, curb replacement and storm sewers for the turning lane. North Quarry Road from Milan Avenue North to the end of the road is planned for chipping and sealing the existing asphalt and gravel pavement. Plaza Drive from Middle Ridge Road to the end of the drive will have existing asphalt pavement resurfaced and repaired. The city also is planning intermittent asphalt and concrete repairs on various roads, with locations still to be determined. An ordinance authorizing the bidding and awarding of the project was passed for further review by the City Council during a Feb. 4 Finance Committee meeting.