The Public Works Department will soon begin work on the $6.6 million 2022 Street Reclamation and Miscellaneous Concrete Program to improve the ride quality and strength of portions of eight streets throughout Arlington.

Construction, which is scheduled to begin in November 2022, will take place at the following locations and is expected to be completed in October 2023:

• Carter Drive (SH303 to Park Row Drive)
• Cochise Drive (Fielder Road to Davis Drive)
• Meandering Way (Brown Boulevard to Midway Road)
• Bluffview Court (Meandering Way to south end of street)
• Midway Road (Boardwalk Drive to Bluffview Court)
• Meandering Way Court (Meandering Way to east end)
• Canyon Ridge Court (Brown Boulevard to north end)
• Knight Street (Cooper Street to west end)

Contractors will begin by replacing various sections of curb and gutter, valley gutter, and drive approaches that have standing water or no longer meet functional expectations. Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps that no longer meet functional expectations will also be removed and replaced. These concrete repairs will be followed by reclamation of the roadway.

Reclamation is a multi-step process that involves the pulverizing and removal of the existing asphalt and then mixing the pulverized materials with lime and cement to increase the strength of the underlying subbase. The reclaimed material is then shaped by a grader into a strong new base. Finally, 6-8 inches of new asphalt will be laid and compacted. The result is a new road with an extended lifespan of up to 20 years at a fraction of the cost, time, and environmental impact of the traditional “remove and replace” method of pavement rehabilitation. Since October 2020, the City has performed reclamation on more than 100,000 square yards of roadway surfaces.

Using the reclamation process on an area the size of a football field can:

• Prevent 4,095 tons of material from entering the landfill
• Eliminate emissions from and fuel for 321 truckloads of materials being hauled to and from the work site
• Eliminate the need for 2,520 tons of new stone aggregates
• Reduce maintenance costs up to 40% over a 5-year period

Miscellaneous concrete repair and reclamation are two of the programs comprising the City’s Street Maintenance Sales Tax Program. The program also includes roadway crack seal, concrete panel replacement, mill and overlay, and some sidewalk repairs. Funding for these various projects is provided in large part by the voter-approved Street Maintenance Sales Tax. Click here to learn more about the Street Maintenance Sales Tax Program.

The City uses an annual pavement survey program to inventory the conditions of one-third of the streets within the city limits each year. The condition of each street segment is reported as an Overall Condition Index (OCI) Rating between 0-100 based on its “ride” and “distress”. Roadways with an average OCI rating of less than 50 are called “red streets” and are recommended for inclusion in the Department of Public Works and Transportation’s Capital Improvement Program. Roads with an average rating between 50 and 69 are called “yellow streets” and are included in the Street Maintenance Sales Tax Program.

Since October 2012, the City has utilized a “do worst first” street maintenance philosophy which focused on addressing streets with an OCI below 50. Beginning this fall, the City will shift to a prevention-based approach that will emphasize the maintenance of “yellow” streets. This shift aims to prolong the life of the roadways and help achieve a more balanced roadway network. “Red” streets, will continue to be addressed through the Capital Improvement Program and submitted to the Citizen’s Bond Committee for consideration of their inclusion in future Bond Elections. Click here to learn more about the Citizens Bond Committee and their meeting schedule.

This year’s reclamation program will also include funding for miscellaneous sidewalk and stormwater infrastructure repairs throughout the City. Sidewalks and pedestrian ramps that no longer meet functional expectations will also be removed and replaced. Additionally, construction of new sidewalks and ADA compliant ramps to accommodate ADA and other sidewalk requests will be included in the project. Stormwater work will include the repair of existing stormwater infrastructure such as concrete channels, storm drain lines, inlets, and flumes that have been damaged or have diminished drainage capacity, as well as construction of new driveway culverts and flumes at locations with non-functioning drainage. The Stormwater portion of the project is funded by the Stormwater Utility Fee.

Residents interested in learning more about this project are invited to participate in a public meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25 in [re]Brary Rooms A & B of the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, 101 S. Center St. There will be a short presentation detailing the scope of the project followed question and answer session.

This $6.6 million investment in public infrastructure improvements aligns with City Council’s priorities to Enhance Regional Mobility and Champion Great Neighborhoods.