City releases new paving guide, paving tracker map, and list of streets being paved in 2019

PHILADELPHIA – City officials today kicked off the 2019 paving season by showcasing the process for paving during a visit to West Oak Lane.

The event demonstrated the paving process, released the 2019 paving list and new paving guide, and launched PavePHL a new map where residents can track the city’s paving progress.

“I know that repaving and potholes are major concerns for our residents, I hear about it everywhere I go,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “To address these concerns, we have made investing in our streets a priority. We are proposing $200 million over six years to improve the City’s roadway infrastructure, investments that have been overdue for a decade.”

According to national standards, for Philadelphia’s roadways to be considered in a state of good repair, the Streets Department must pave on average 131 miles of roadway annually. Mayor Kenney’s proposed fiscal year 2020 operating and capital budget identifies additional funding for the Streets Department to gradually meet this goal by hiring a third crew of more than thirty employees and purchasing new equipment. With a capital program cost of more than $200 million, repaving represents the single largest investment in the capital program.

A total of 77 miles of repaving was completed in 2018 and current repaving operations are on track to exceed 95 miles for 2019. This represents a 238 percent increase in repaving productivity over the last five fiscal years due to the city’s increased investments in the paving program.

“So far, we have paved 64 miles of streets with two paving crews, compared with 47 miles this time last year,” said Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. “The new paving guide and PavePHL map make the paving process more transparent and inform residents on what to expect when their street is getting repaved.”

The paving process from initial milling to complete resurfacing of streets takes between three to five weeks on average and residents will have to move their cars during the process. The four step process is as follows:

  1. Milling: The first step of the process is milling, where the old roadway is removed.
  2. Adjustments: During this step, the Streets Department works with utility companies to address underground issues and prevent future diggings. They also reset manhole covers.
  3. Paving: New asphalt is laid, restoring the street to good condition.
  4. Striping: After paving is complete, the road is striped.

Residents should continue to report potholes to 311.

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