The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
BRICK BY BRICK
City, county team up to repair road
The adage “every path begins with a single stone” is true for Painesville.
The city has a number of streets that maintain their brick surfaces. While visually charming, many are in need of repair. These construction efforts have been hampered by the sheer level of cost that goes into brick street reconstruction compared to modern asphalt roads.
City Engineer Leanne Exum detailed how “normal asphalt overlay for Mentor Avenue would be about $100,000. To do it in brick it’s almost $700,000.”
The drastic price discrepancy comes from the fact that during brick street construction “you essentially build two roads. You have to build a concrete road underneath the brick, and then you put the brick on top. You have to have nine to 10 inches of concrete before you can even put the bricks down.”
The efforts have not been ruled out, however. A long standing residential survey taken in 2017 still offers the city loose guidance into the community’s desire to retain what brick-lined lanes they can afford to hold onto.
The moderate majority of Painesville residents that responded to the survey were interested in maintaining the brick roads as long as they were
not responsible for their upkeep. To find a compromise, the city has decided to focus on brick roads that are within their historic districts as funds allow.
Exum highlighted that the city is currently in the midst of a multiyear roads plan which does not currently include any brick roads.
While the brick construction falls within the permitted use of the levy’s funds, she has stated that the city views the brick reconstruction as a lower priority.
She said the city currently has no intentions of using levy funds to facilitate brick road reconstruction.
Their efforts were given a head start thanks to positive talks with Lake County Commissioners involved in the construction of the Lake County Administration Center, located in the heart of Downtown Painesville. Together, county and city officials pooled funds to complete construction on a brick street corner that opens to a walkway before the Administration Center.
Lake County Administrator Jason Boyd explained the impromptu joint venture, “Initially, (the county) was doing enhancements just up to property line, (Painesville) asked us for help to work on streetscape project.”
After Painesville was able to provide financial support through Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency funding, assets were likewise contributed to the project from the county level.
“It’s been a really good collaboration and it’s really going to enhance what’s going to be a beautiful plaza,” Boyd says. “They know it’s extremely expensive; a 10-, 15-year project, but we’re happy to be part of the first phase.”
The extended time frame Boyd offers matches with Exum who says brick road reconstruction is not even on their five-year road plan as of yet.
She underscored an overriding concern of the city to remain prudent stewards of residential financial support. To that end, the visual appeal of updating the city’s numerous brick streets does not outweigh the ongoing efforts of their multiyear roads plan.