Between the small-but-mighty city streets crew and the companies Rawlins contracted with for work, more than two dozen municipal roadways were improved this year — that accounts for 89 city blocks!
The six-person streets crew used more than 600 tons of asphalt generated from our plant to patch street cuts, potholes, alleys and small sections of bad roads — like Edinburgh, which will be rebuilt in 2022 as part of the ongoing 6th Penny funded projects. This division responsible for maintaining a combined 131 miles of roads and alleyways. We are so proud of what this division has accomplished so far this year!
As part of the 2021 Street Rehabilitation Project, a total of 34 streets across all three wards were improved this year using a mill and overlay technique, in which three-quarter-inch wear course was applied to the road surface. Public Works Director Cody Dill said, “STC has laid more than 7,719 tons of asphalt across 5.6 miles worth of city streets just this season on this mill, overlay and wear course project.” The Rawlins City Council awarded this work to STC Construction in June in the amount of $851,439 — about $150,000 under what was budgeted! STC also completed the 2020 Street Mill and Overlay Project.
Both Delta and Dunphail Streets were completely rebuilt this summer, meaning the entire road surface was demolished, dug up, re-graded and rebuilt, along with curb, gutter and sidewalks.
Walnut Street, from 3rd to 7th Streets, reopened on November 23rd following a total rebuild, which got underway in early July. The Rawlins City Council awarded the rebuild to Lewis and Lewis in June. This project was was paid for using the 6th Penny Specific Purpose Tax, which was approved by the voting public at a May 2019 special election.
We know many citizens were inconvenienced by the road repairs, and we want to extend an extra special “Thank You!” to them for their patience. Although we have wrapped up these projects for the season and are transitions to winter prep, you can expect to see many more roads repaired and rebuilt starting in Spring 2022!
Since 2018, the Rawlins City Council has placed a special emphasis on repairing and rebuilding the streets, authorizing the expenditure of more than $4.4 million dollars in that time. It’s estimated that to fix all the roads at once would cost $55 million dollars.
For more information, please contact Mira Miller, City of Rawlins Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-328-4500 ext. 1022.
