Pavement not Posies…
I think someone should take that phrase as their campaign slogan – Pavement not Posies! It is what immediately came to mind when I got to this portion of the Blade article on the possible eminent domain of Southwyck discussion:
Also discussed at yesterday’s committee hearing was the administration’s proposal to spend about $985,000 on improvements to Reynolds Road between Glendale Avenue and Heatherdowns Boulevard. The work would include installing median planters and other improvements, but not repaving. Mr. Ashford questioned the value of spending capital improvement dollars on road projects without paving.
I’m all for pretty, pretty is very very nice but pavement is more important. While on the topic of pavement and road construction, I just want to say for the record that whatever government entity decided to do the sewer work on Glendale now, as opposed to doing it this summer when school was not in session deserves the “asshat” of the month award. The additional safety issues created by this construction zone with Byrnedale being in session demonstrates a real lack of foresight and planning.
I’d also point out that anyone who has driven down any number of local streets, one example would be South Detroit towards Glendale recently can attest to that road needing pavement…not posies, as well. Unless of course the goal is to create a mini roller coaster thrill ride, if that’s the plan? Great job guys!
Better yet, the construction zone on Glendale is set up to allow for a second lane westbound, but the construction workers only begin opening the second lane at 5:30PM. It’s also down to two lanes in the morning at 8 AM. Did no one think that it’s useless to have an extra lane if it is closed for rush hour and school arrival/departure?
About the pavement, I don’t know if it would be needed. I drive that stretch of road daily and it’s in pretty good shape. Sealing the cracks would add some longevity to the surface, but there aren’t many bumps that I’ve noticed and there’s been no major utility construction, so the road isn’t pockmarked with uneven strips of pavement. From Heatherdowns to Maumee is a mess, including a big pothole in front of the Toledo Pride sign, which was recently patched. That strip, along with Glendale from Reynolds to the Walmart, needs new pavement before the road in front of Southwyck.
September 25th, 2007 at 4:31 pmI’m a passenger in a car down S. Detroit almost daily when you are heading from Glendale towards Arlington there are some major bumps. Not the worst street by far but enough that it’s easy to be shaken around a bit. Heatherdowns also could use some PLC (paving loving care) before posies…
September 25th, 2007 at 4:59 pmGood advice on Glendale though, you’d think someone would have thought about a way to minimize traffic issues. My husband drives my daughter to school every morning and it sounds like it’s even more of a nightmare now than it was before.
September 25th, 2007 at 5:04 pmArlington Ave from S. Detroit to Woodsdale is a real disaster and could sure use pavement and not daises. I have revamped my morning travel route to work just to avoid that section of road and save me some dollars in car repairs.
September 25th, 2007 at 11:29 pmI think the shorter list would be the streets that don’t need some pavement/curb/sidewalk attention. the Mayor and the Administration have the priority list for the infrastructure needs all screwed up. A lil more patch/duct tape/paint/flowers will cover up the problem, yet will not resolve it.
Every good construction contractor knows that unless there is a solid foundation, nothing you build on top of it will matter and it will cost more money than it’s worth to do it twice.
Take the MLK/Cherry St. Bridge. So far..the tab in is the millions, they just informed us they need another 10 million…on top of what has already been spent with no promise that this will be it. I’ve seen/touched the pilings and bank support..it’s not valid any longer. So all the money they are spending will be for nothing and the bridge will still be crap when/if they ever get done.
Here’s what we NEED:
Working sewers and water systems
Safe and stable bridges
Flat sidewalks
Solid curbs
Smooth streets
Ample lighting within neighborhoods
Trimed trees
Here’s what we get:
Bike paths
Flower pots
Broken curbs
Ruptured/pothole/rumble/cracked streets
Flooded viaducts/ basements/ intersetions
Sidewalks that are either gone all together or cracked/dangerous/sticking up to trip on/sue over.
Long dead and damadged trees falling all over during storms
Poorly lit neighborhoods that inspire crime
I could go on and on and on, but we all know by living here what we’re getting for the money we spend. This administration has no idea what it is doing/should be doing in terms of bettering our community and developiing a safe and stable infrastructure.
September 26th, 2007 at 8:04 amYes… it seems as though priorities are way out of wack.
Why can’t the city involve TPS or possibly Maumee Country Day School into putting flowers in the median on Reynolds Road? Or possibly “sell” sections that individuals and/or local businesses could plant flowers (or have flowers planted – because it isn’t exactly safe to be letting people wander on a median strip).
I also thought this was an odd time of year to be doing road/sewer work right in front of the junior high. Some people really need to buy a calendar.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:53 amSidewalks that are either gone all together or cracked/dangerous/sticking up to trip on/sue over.
Who is responsible for sidewalks, the city or the property owner? In Perrysburg, the city tags cracked sidewalk and issues fines if it’s not repaired, but I’ve lived in places where the city handles the sidewalk repairs even if the sidewalk is set back from the street.
September 26th, 2007 at 4:06 pmIn the City of Toledo, anything behind the utility line is the responsibility of the property owner. Typically anything between sidewalk and curb of the road is called “Right-of-way” and it’s the city’s property.
September 26th, 2007 at 7:35 pmI think the property owner is responsible for sidewalk repair.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:46 amLet me say this again….it’s the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAINTAIN THE SIDEWALK.
September 27th, 2007 at 12:34 pmThanks for the info RM & Robin.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:46 pmGive me an old cool bicycle, and I’ll ride around the city for days.
October 23rd, 2007 at 3:11 pmAnd writing about responsibilities and bike paths, when is the city going to mow the weed laden and tall grass bike path near International Park?
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:23 pmFYI…I was refering to the city owned sidewalks on the umpteen vacant city owned lots. As an example, 220 Columbia had nothing left except a drop off, until I “informed” the city of the 122 feet of No Sidewalk.
October 23rd, 2007 at 5:56 pm