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Road improvements coming in 2017

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XENIA — The City of Xenia will spend more than $995,000 on roadway constructions in 2017, including $350,000 on the street program.

The city annually commits at least $500,000 to streets and pays for the various projects from its general capital, municipal motor vehicle license tax and Greene County permissive tax funds. There are five projects in the 2017 plan: Street program; Hospitality Drive and East Main Street; South Progress Drive; Bellbrook Avenue; and the Ohio Department of Transportation Safety Grant.

The street program will allow nine yet-to-be named streets throughout the city to be repaved. Cracksealing will not be completed in 2017 to allow the city to meet its local match commitment for the federally funded resurfacing of Bellbrook Avenue. The city has historically resurfaced more than what is planned for this year, but the number of large-scale projects limited the number of streets. The city also makes sure all city areas are covered each year.

The criteria for selection includes pavement condition index, economic development impact or opportunity, current condition of water and sewer and budget limitations.

“Although city staff is well aware that there (still) remains many more local streets to be rehabilitated over the next several years, we will continue to concentrate our efforts in addressing the bottom third pavement condition index ranked streets in the foreseeable future,” said City Engineer Chris Berger. “At the same time, we have been pleased with our ability to obtain state and federal grants over the last few years by leveraging city funds to address heavily traveled thoroughfares that facilitate access to adjoining highways and major retail centers.”

The city share of the Hospitality/Main project is $260,300 with nearly $160,000 coming from the permissive tax fund, administered by the Greene County Engineer. The city is spending $165,620 on South Progress, $120,000 on the safety grant — which involves pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular safety improvements to Detroit Street and West Main Street — and $100,000 on the Bellbrook Avenue (from Colorado to Maumee drives) project.

Including the ODOT project, $3.6 million will be spent on streets in 2017.

During a special council meeting in February to discuss the street program, City Manager Brent Merriman told council that city staff hopes more neighborhood streets will be included in next year’s plan.

Berger said residents can be proactive in reporting streets in poor condition.

“In the meantime and until our residents can get their specific street resurfaced, they can always contact the Public Service Department at 937-376-7265 to report potholes and/or any other street deterioration,” he said.

By Scott Halasz

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Contact Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.