Roadway rehabilitation of two neighborhood streets started this week on Willis Avenue between Welch Drive and Seneca Street and Seneca Street between Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard and Dunn Avenue. Due to their conditions, the roadways are undergoing a full-depth reclamation process, which is a type of road reconstruction where the old pavement and base materials are pulverized, treated with a stabilizing agent and re-applied to the road. The roadway is then re-surfaced with an overlay of new asphalt. This is a much quicker process than traditional road construction since there’s less truck traffic, there is little or no waste, and the new roadway is as durable as a traditionally reconstructed roadway. The project cost is $267,296.
The roadways are not closed during the rehabilitation; however, traffic is limited to one lane, and flaggers are helping to direct traffic. Crews are beginning work on Willis Avenue and when that street is complete, work on Seneca Street. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The rehabilitation is scheduled to be finished by the end of March. Residents and businesses in the area have been notified of the work.
To minimize traffic disruption, the White Street intersection will be replaced when that roadway comes due for its required maintenance in the future. In addition, as part of the project, Utilities staff replaced service lines nearing the end of their useful life, to minimize disturbance of the newly constructed roadway.
Champions Drive is the next scheduled resurfacing project and will start in the spring.