ASHLAND — Road crews got a late start on street work last week when they kickstarted a $2.6 million resurfacing contract in Ashland, yet officials are hopeful everything — including Claremont Avenue — should finish by Oct. 31.
“We do not have a definitive date for the projects, but both are to be done by Oct. 31,” said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller. “However, Claremont (Avenue) could be impacted by the unexpected repairs they have had to make.
“But we still are operating with the Oct. 31 deadline in mind.”
The streets list include portions of 64 roads throughout the city. Nearly half of the $2,581,000 million price tag will go toward resurfacing nine roads.
The priciest road, which will be resurfaced in its entirety, will be Columbus Circle at $203,362.38.
Other roads include Eagle Way ($57,396.93), Indian Trail ($29,031.50) and Willis Avenue ($4,700.06).
One of the priciest roads includes the resurfacing of Third Street for $108,976.68. The road will also be converted into a two-way road, officials have said. The conversion isn’t expected to be complete until sometime in September.
City council sought bids for the resurfacing program in March, touted at the time to be Ashland’s biggest road-work contract ever. The city hired Ashland-based Sarver Paving for the job in May.
Miller said the company started road work in August.
“It’s just how they were able to fit us in their schedule,” he said of the company’s timing.
The city’s street resurfacing program is funded by an income tax levy that voters first approved in 2016. It was renewed in 2020 and will last through 2025. Since 2016, the program has led to the repaving of 131 of the city’s 315 streets, Miller said.
Update on Claremont Avenue
The city sought a $1 million loan to cover additional unexpected expenses associated with the work on Claremont Avenue in July. Crews from Driven Excavating started work on the four-lane, main thoroughfare in spring.
The loan puts the project’s estimated cost up to $6.1 million, a project that a few years ago the city expected to only cost $3.6 million.
Ashland received two grants totaling $2.4 million for the Claremont project. The rest of the cost will be covered by the city’s income tax levy revenue dedicated to street resurfacing.
Miller said crews have not been out working in full force recently because of the weather.
“Unfortunately, they’re not going to be done before the fair,” the mayor said. The Ashland County Fair will be held Sept. 17-23.
Below is the city’s full list of streets to be resurfaced.
