PARMA, Ohio - The Director of the Department of Public Utilities, Tony Vannello, annually updates the list of streets to be asphalted as part of the city's biennial street program.
The recently announced list boasts completion dates by the end of the 2025 season.
"This year we have approximately $5 million that can be used for the local road program," said Department Director Tony Vannello. "Last year, we had the opportunity to utilize leftover funds from the ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) for sewer repairs. So, we were counting on $1.1 million in 2023, which we do not have this year."
"Nevertheless, the city's income has increased over the year. I just received a preliminary report from the auditor, and it looks like we have about $5 million, which is roughly enough to repair 40 roads. That’s our goal, which we can achieve," the department head said. He mentioned that his department expanded its scope beyond simple milling and paving.
In addition to repairing and restoring catch basins, manhole covers, and structures, preliminary work includes inspection of storm and sanitary sewer systems carried out by city crews.
"If we identify issues, we conduct repairs on the sewer networks before starting road paving work," he said. "We want to do everything possible to ensure we don't have to dig up a new road again."
"We are also coordinating with Cleveland’s Water Department to hopefully align our plan with their pipe replacement projects."
Upcoming in Parma is a promising start scheduled for early April, when asphalt plants open for the construction season.
"We have a prepared starting point with more than a dozen streets where sewer lines have been inspected and cleaned without issues or have already been repaired," said Tony.
"We also have crews working daily, continuing to prepare more roads so that after the plants open, our workers can begin paving." These efforts and processes are related to the city recently launching a two-year asphalt overlay program.
"This allows us to accelerate work execution and prepare them a bit faster," he said.
"We are trying to identify future road needs well in advance, more than two years ahead, so we have more opportunities both in terms of time and revenue to complete major works before the season ends."
Another component of the two-year list of roads needing surface updates relates to the city's goal to work on 40 different streets.
"This is our objective, bringing us closer to the pavement renewal program," he said. "So, when we complete repairs on all roads, if we can stick to this strategy, we will have a good chance of also ensuring proper maintenance."
"Asphalt typically lasts about 20 years. So, clearly, our goal is to be able to resurface roads approximately every 20 years. We are doing everything we can to repair more roads in this community."
