MANSFIELD — Fixing a portion of Park Avenue West was not not part of the city’s original plan to repave nearly 24 miles of Mansfield streets in 2025.
But Mayor Jodie Perry has decided it can’t wait.
The city’s Board of Control on Tuesday approved a $115,627 change order with Kokosing Construction for pavement repairs along the heavily trafficked road between Trimble Road and Bowman Street.
The road, a part of Ohio 430 as it comes through the city, is resurfaced on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s work schedule, according to city engineer Bob Bianchi. The state agency normally pays 60 to 70 percent of those costs.
But ODOT doesn’t have that section of road on its resurfacing schedule until 2028 or 2029, Bianchi said, under its urban paving program.
“That pavement along the curbs will not last,” he said. “So in conversations with the mayor, she would like this fixed sooner, rather than later.”
The engineer said the work may not require additional funds. The city had estimated $5.9 million in Pothole Haters tax revenues for the work this year. Kokosing was awarded the work with a bid of $5.3 million.
“We do have funding that’s been appropriated (by City Council) that we can use,” Bianchi said.
“It’s mostly on the curb line, but it’s going to be a nice improvement,” the engineer said.
Work on that section of Park Avenue West will begin in a few weeks, he said.
The Pothole Haters tax is a quarter-percent municipal income tax that generates about $4.8 million annually. The four-year tax is up for renewal on the May 6 primary ballot.
