BEAVERCREEK — The City of Beavercreek will be entering an agreement with the Greene County Engineering Department to place bids for asphalt for the annual resurfacing program to maximize the number of streets to be paved.

By collaborating with the county the city will be able to obtain lower prices, like they have been able to do in recent years.

“Before the passage of last years’ levy, we were only able to resurface about six linear miles per year, which was a 42 year cycle for paving. Now, it has doubled our ability to resurface roads. Now we’re able to pave 12 linear miles, which is a 21 year cycle under normal conditions,” Beavercreek Assistant City Engineer Nick Smith said.

In 2015 the city was able to pave 13.94 linear miles. In 2016, the city was able to resurface their largest area, which was 15.32 linear miles. Smith said that part of the success was because of the prices of asphalt for those two years.

“As long as the prices stay low, we’ll be ahead of the anticipated schedule for the paving progress that was promised during levy time. Because of this, an alternative paving list has been created to add the additional roads to be paved,” Smith said. “The amended list will be provided to the contractor.” Each street has different needs and requirements, so the worst streets will have attention.

Every road that is under the management of the city throughout Beavercreek is placed in a database and each road is evaluated throughout the year. The database was created in the 1980s and as streets are added, they are also added to the database. Residents complaints and concerns are also noted on the database. Then, as money becomes available for the annual resurfacing project, Smith drives through the streets that are marked urgent to reevaluate to determine the needs. The repaving list is also shared with the city manager.

“I’m not walking my dog five miles a day anymore, but there are a lot of streets in Beavercreek that need attention. I’m not sure we are keeping up with them as we should,” Vice Mayor Julie Vann said. “I’d like the quality of Beavercreek to be good instead of letting streets deteriorate.”

While the street department agrees, City Engineer Jeff Moorman said that the money situation does not allow that to happen, but feels they do keep up with it as best as they can.

“Since the passage of the levy, we have more than doubled our efforts. At the end of this levy cycle, everybody is going to notice a large difference,” Moorman said.

“It’s nice to see the levy dollars at work,” Councilwoman Debborah Wallace said.

Fourty-two additional streets that have been added to the resurfacing project for this year: Penrose Court, Wendover Dr., Rosehill Dr., Vayview Dr., Longwood Dr., Wynkoop Ct., Germany Lane, Etta Kable Dr., Dale Ct., Townhall Rd., Old Heritage Way, Walling Way, Coldsprings Dr., Celia Dr., Ripon Dr., Valdina Dr., Forest Glenn Ct., Eileen Drive, Mardella Dr., Lloyd Ct., Richmar Dr., Blue Rock Dr., Cevennes Terrace, Greenway Drive, Woodmont Dr., Village Green Dr., Millstream Dr., Cannon Ct., Southern Belle Blvd., Stone Mill Ct., Towncrest Dr., Towncrest Dr., Ramsgate Ct., S. Emerald Ct., N. Emerald Ct., Abbygate Dr., Margate Dr., Riverhills Rd., Renown Rd., Willowcrest Rd., Rexford Road, and Kenora Circle.

By Danielle Coots

For the News-Current

Danielle Coots is a freelance writer for Greene County News.