Residents can soon look forward to smoother roads as the annual paving program began in various locations throughout the city on Monday. 

Over 50 spots have been identified for repair in the 2022 Asphalt Maintenance Program. This program covers failures in the roadway, such as potholes, repairs due to utility work, and maintenance to pathways. 

The Asphalt Maintenance Program is only scheduled to take a couple of weeks and will be closely followed by the 2022 Paving and Concrete program. 

Jolene Peters, Manager of Engineering, said that locations are chosen each year due to severity and level of traffic. 

“We do have a database that lists the condition,” she said. “It's a condition assessment, so the roads that have been identified in very poor condition are typically the ones that are initiated for the paving program. For the maintenance program, you know, there's quite a few bad ones out there this year. Once again, the ones listed as very poor condition or use typically completed first.” 

Peters added that while the most severe locations do typically see repairs first, there are a few that may take place prior due to location. 

“You may see the contractor completing spots that may not seem like the worst ones come right off the hop,” she explained. “But to be efficient while the contractors are repairing the high priority locations, they also complete smaller repairs in the area, rather than bouncing across the city.” 

2022's contract for the Asphalt and Maintenance Program was awarded to Mobile Paving Limited of Swift Current, with a total fee of $400,000, including PST, excluding GST. 

The Paving and Concrete Program puts its focus towards the larger repairs in the city, such as repaving entire roadways and the replacement of concrete walks or curbs where a safety or drainage concern is present. 

The budget for this year’s Paving and Concrete Program breaks down to $905,000 for street and sidewalk rehabilitation, $300,000 for downtown streetscape rehabilitation, $100,000 for downtown intersection improvements, and $67,195.52 SGI Traffic Safety Grant, which is currently pending approval.  

The contract was awarded to Mobile Paving Limited on a total budget of $1,372,195.52, PST included, GST excluded. 

The paving program is set to continue through the summer months, as long as favorable weather persists. 

To view a full list of locations affected this year follow daily progress click here