City announces paving, other projects as part of 2023 Road Improvement Plan

Erie Mayor Joe Schember and Public Works Director Chuck Zysk announced, on May 18, 2023, $5.1 million in projects for the 2023 paving and construction season. The projects comprise the 2023 Road Improvement Plan. Part of that plan is $1.6 million in roadway improvements for 4.75 miles of streets in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods in Erie, funded by a Community Development Block Grant, administered by the City’s Economic and Community Development Department.

The 2023 Road Improvement Plan is broken down into several phases.

• Phase 1 – $750,000 in projects broken down into two segments:
  • Segment 1: $460,000 of roadway improvements that are funded through the CDBG program and focused on low- to moderate-income neighborhoods designated by the federal government.
  • Segment 2: $290,000 of roadway improvements that are focused on areas of the City outside of the designated CDBG Zone throughout the City.
• Phase 2- $4.35 million for seven other projects:
  • Milling and resurfacing road reconstruction project, funded through a CDBG.
    • All the work will take place within the CDBG map.
    • Work will begin within the next few weeks.
    • Expected completion by the end of June.
  • Milling and resurfacing project funding through Liquid Fuels funding that the City receives through the Pennsylvania gas tax.
    • Expected to be bid at the beginning of June.
    • Work should begin in mid-June.
    • Expected completion in September.
• Milling and resurfacing road reconstruction project within designated CDBG areas.
  • Work will begin in July.
  • Expected completion in September.
  • Federal Aid Route project funded through PennDOT and the Erie Metropolitan Planning Organization.
    • Work should begin by late summer.

Other contracted work includes:

• The roadway reconstruction project on East Lake Road from East Avenue to Dunn Boulevard.  This project will include the removal of the asphalt base and sub-base layer. The funding for this project is through a grant awarded through the Pennsylvania Local Share Account.
• Installation of ADA-compliant curb ramps throughout the City.
• Also included in this year’s program is a crack sealing and pavement edge contract at various locations within the City.

What to expect:

For all these projects, residents can expect:

• Road closure for the milling operation.
• Road closure for the paving operation.
• “No parking” signs installed a minimum of 3 days prior to work taking place.
• Work crews will try to keep disturbances to a minimum.
• Do not drive through work zones.

Fun facts:

Here are some fun facts about the amount of material used for 2023 Road Improvement Program:

• 189,270 square yards of roadway resurfacing material. That’s enough to pave almost 30 football fields.
• About 21,000 tons of new asphalt.
• 10.75 linear miles of roadway will be paved this summer, which equates to about 23 lane miles.