This may come as no surprise to you, but Salt Lake City's streets are in bad shape. But just how bad, may surprise you. News specialist, Shannon Ogden, has more.
The city's engineering division tonight gave the city council a report council members had requested, on the state of our streets. The report shows almost half the city streets need help. Thirteen percent of Salt Lake City's streets are rated in "very poor" condition. They add up to 225 lane-miles. All these streets need immediate attention... most likely complete reconstruction. Total cost--about $81-million. Deputy City engineer, Richard Johnston, says, "The overall condition of streets, or those in poor condition and in need of reconstruction, has increased over the last 10 or so years."
The report rates only 51 percent of city streets in "good" condition. Salt Lake City currently spends about $6-million a year on street maintenance and new construction. The report recommends spending an additional $4.3-million a year, to bring the overall pavement condition to fair-to-good... just keeping the city's head above water, so to speak. Johnston says, "Over 50 percent of our streets are over 60 years old. That's a condition that needs to be looked at."
Engineers recommend street maintenance every eight years. Right now, the city does it every 11 years. Some streets haven't been worked on in two decades. The report recommends adding $4.3-million to the street budget. The question for the council is, how to pay for that?