2023 Critical Mill and Overlay Improvements IP 23-14

May 26, 2023

Dozens of miles of City streets have significant numbers of potholes deeper than 2 inches and/or areas where the upper 2 inches or less of pavement are missing due to a phenomenon known as surface stripping, resulting in unsafe conditions for drivers and pedestrians. The number of streets exhibiting these severe pavement distresses continues to grow with each passing year.  In recent years, the Public Works Department struggled to repair these distressed pavement sections and in the process were forced to neglect other core duties, such as street sweeping. In 2023, the number of streets with deep potholes and surface stripping has increased significantly such that Public Works staff are unable to maintain these distressed pavement sections in a timely manner.  These poor pavement conditions are primarily the result of older streets being constructed with pavement sections that are less substantial than today’s standards require, followed by decades of minimal pavement maintenance. Other factors include the negative effects of surface stripping under sealcoats, followed by last winter’s severe weather conditions with record-breaking rain and snowfall totals and a higher-than-normal number of freeze-thaw cycles.

In 2022, during the 2023 budget process, the City Council authorized bonding approximately $12M for additional Pavement Management Program (PMP) projects (pavement overlays and street reconstructions) over the next 10 years. The City Council also authorized budgeting an additional $750,000 to the streets maintenance fund for temporary spray patching improvements on an estimated 19 miles of City streets that were not identified for overlay or reconstruction improvements in the 2022 - 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) but are exhibiting significant surface stripping damage.  The bituminous pavement on these streets is prone to accelerated deterioration due to water pooling in the surface depressions, which is then forced between the pavement base and the wear courses as vehicle tires drop into the depressions and push the water into pavement voids. The serviceability of these streets will therefore continue to decline while other streets receive overlay and reconstruction improvements.  Staff therefore recommended spray patching the estimated 19 miles of streets while PMP projects in the 2022 - 2031 CIP are completed, and until streets with PASER ratings of 4 or less that were not included in the 2022-2031 CIP can be reconstructed.  

This Spring, City staff developed plans to hire one or more contractors to perform temporary pavement repair work throughout the City in 2023.  While developing this plan it was observed that several different types of pavement repairs would be needed to most cost-effectively maintain pavement on streets awaiting overlay and reconstruction improvements. The three types of pavement repairs recommended by Staff for 2023 include spray patching areas with shallow surface stripping damage, patching potholes deeper than 2-inches, and completing 2-inch mill and overlay improvements over critical areas with extensive potholes resulting in significant calls for service and vehicle damage claims.  Pavement striping will also be needed in some areas after the contracted work is complete.

Relative to this project, plans were developed for 2-inch mill and overlay improvements at 21 of the most critical locations across the City where the pavement has numerous large potholes resulting in unsafe driving conditions due to drivers swerving into opposing lanes to avoid the potholes.  These areas have also resulted in the submission of numerous vehicle damage claims to the City's insurance company. Completing these temporary pavement repairs in 2023 will provide a significant safety benefit to the public, will reduce the number of calls for service being received by City staff, and will allow staff to complete other core duties. These repairs will also reduce the number of damage claims being received by the City. The plans may be seen here.

On April 25th, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #23-082 approving plans and specifications and authorizing advertisements for bids for Improvement Project #23-14, Critical Mill and Overlay Improvements, which proposed 2-inch mill and overlay improvements at 21 locations on City streets having extensive pavement damage. 

On May 23rd, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #23-115 accepting bids and awarding a contract for construction for Improvement Project #23-14, 2023 Critical Mill and Overlay Improvements, to Diversified Paving, Inc. (DPI) in the amount of $310,671.88. City staff are working with DPI to execute contracts and to schedule a preconstruction meeting to discuss the project schedule and share contact information and other project-related details.  This project webpage will be updated to include much of this information after the preconstruction meeting is held.     

Funds for this project are proposed to come from the $750,000 dedicated to the street maintenance budget in 2022 for temporary pavement repairs in 2023. 

May 12, 2023

On April 25, the Ramsey City Council approved plans and authorized advertisement for bids for this mill and overlay improvement project. Bids are proposed to be publicly opened on Friday, May 19, 2023. 

During the 2023 budget process, the City Council authorized bonding approximately $12M for additional Pavement Management Program projects over the next 10 years. The City Council also authorized budgeting an additional $750,000 to the streets maintenance fund for temporary spray patching improvements on an estimated 19 miles of City streets that were not identified for overlay or reconstruction improvements in the 2022 - 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) but are exhibiting significant surface stripping damage.  The bituminous pavement on these streets is prone to accelerated deterioration due to water pooling in the surface depressions, which is then forced between the pavement base and the wear courses as vehicle tires drop into the depressions and push the water into pavement voids. The serviceability of these streets will therefore continue to decline while other streets receive overlay and reconstruction improvements.  Staff therefore recommended spray patching the estimated 19 miles of streets while PMP projects in the 2022 - 2031 CIP are completed, and until streets with PASER ratings of 4 or less that were not included in the 2022-2031 CIP can be reconstructed.  

Staff has since been developing a plan to hire one or more contractors to perform temporary pavement repair work throughout the City in 2023.  While developing this plan it was observed that several different types of pavement repairs would be needed to most cost-effectively maintain pavement on streets awaiting overlay and reconstruction improvements. The different types of pavement repairs recommended by Staff for 2023 include spray patching areas with surface stripping damage, patching potholes deeper than 2-inches, and completing 2-inch mill and overlay improvements over areas with extensive potholes resulting in significant calls for service and damage claims.  Pavement striping will also be needed in some areas after the contracted work is complete.

Plans have been put together for completing 2-inch mill and overlay improvements at various locations around the City that are experiencing severe pavement distress resulting in large potholes and uneven driving surfaces, these areas are resulting in unsafe driving conditions causing drivers to swerve into opposing lanes to avoid the numerous potholes and have resulted in the submission of numerous vehicle damage claims to the City's insurance company. Completing these temporary pavement repairs in 2023 will provide a significant safety benefit to the public, will reduce the number of calls for service being received by City staff, and will allow staff to complete other critical duties. These repairs will also reduce the number of damage claims being received by the City. The plans may be seen here.

These improvements are proposed to be funded with General Levey Funds budgeted in 2022.