Resurfacing More Roads

I'll be the first to admit, most people do not get excited about road repaving unless they happen to be running late because they are stuck in the middle of a traffic jam because of road work. But repaving roads is a vital tenet of maintaining a quality community and I am pleased that Sylvania Township has finally made infrastructure maintenance a priority. One only has to look at a neighboring city to realize what happens when capital improvements are put off for too long.

In the last four years, we have resurfaced over 30 miles of township/subdivision roads. Compared to one mile of road repaved in 2003 and 2004, the 30 miles is a marked improvement. On average we need to repave about 6 miles a year in order to maintain a reasonable repaving schedule so that all roads are in good repair. Clearly, the prior board failed in this obligation when they only paved one mile in two years.

At the same time we are repaving roads, we are often repairing and replacing curbs and gutters that are crumbling and in disrepair so that the whole project is completed simultaneously. Our crews also have reconstructed numerous sidewalk ramps to appropriate handicap-grade, improving the accessibility of our community and neighborhoods while working on roads in the area.

While repaving a record number of miles, we have also strategically leveraged our road repaving dollars by working with neighboring jurisdictions and Lucas County on joint road projects and securing Ohio Public Works Commission no-interest loans and grants for repaving projects. Later this fall, we will submit a grant/loan application which we hope will provide 49% of the funding for resurfacing and drainage projects in the following areas next year: Silica Road (between Brint and Convent, a joint project with the City of Sylvania); Westacre Subdivision; Country Walk Subdivision; Country Meadow Court; and Oak Creek Subdivision. Utilizing cooperative efforts with our neighbors and supplemental funding has allowed us to do more with your tax dollars while making infrastructure maintenance a priority.