In the Poplarville city limits, there are 116 roads, which equals about 25 miles. The cost to repair these roads will be about $2.9 million.
During the last Board of Aldermen meeting in January, the board engaged the services of city engineer Jason Lamb of Hattiesburg’s Walker and Associates. Lamb was asked to evaluate and survey the roadway conditions and compile a comprehensive report.
During Tuesday’s aldermen meeting, Lamb presented that report to board members.
“We were looking for pavement aging,” Lamb said Thursday. “Asphalt has an expected life and we were identifying the road’s performance with traffic volume. We also looked at surface irregularities resulting from pavement failures, utility excavations and storm and water damage. We also evaluated ride quality.”
Streets were grouped into three priorities, Lamb said.
There are 77 streets in the priority one category. Lamb said those are the roadways that will need attention first.
Lamb found general pavement deterioration and limited surface maintenance, which resulted in pavement failure.
The estimated cost to repair these roads is about $1.5 million, Lamb said.
The 13 roadways listed in the priority two category have a more improved ride quality, fewer failure areas and utility excavations, Lamb said. The pavement on these roads is in a more acceptable condition. The estimated cost to repair these roads is $390,000.
The streets in the priority three category represent facilities that have seen some degree of surface maintenance within the last 10 to 15 years, Lamb said. The cost to repair these roadways will be about $1 million. The cost is more than priority two because the roadways are longer, wider and there are more of them. There are 26 roads in the priority three category.
The board took no action on the matter during Tuesday’s meeting, Lamb said.
“Right now they are digesting the comprehensive report and identifying the magnitude,” Lamb said. “It may even become necessary to create priorities within the priority.”
Aldermen have been discussing seeking a bond for the purpose of repairing the city’s streets.
Board attorney Nick Thompson said a bond is like a promissory note.
“It’s the city’s written promise to a financial institution such as a bank or bonding company to pay a certain amount of money at a later date with a certain amount of interest,” Thompson said Thursday.