Gadsden targets some of its 'worst streets' in 2024 resurfacing plan

Some of Gadsden’s worst streets are about to get some attention.

The City Council on Aug. 20 passed the 2024 street resurfacing project, accepting a bid of $822,347.35 from Vulcan Materials and Construction.

Director of Engineering Heath Williamson said after discussion with Mayor Craig Ford, the city wants to “knock out some of the worst roads that we’ve gotten heavy complaints on.”

Williamson said most of the streets in question will require full-depth reclamation, where the entire roadway must be rebuilt, “because with a lot of these, there’s not an adequate base under the asphalt and it’s just falling apart.”

Set for work are:

District 1

• Marker Road from East Meighan Boulevard to McCord Avenue

• Hillcrest Avenue from Marker Street to a dead end

• Cantrell Street from Marker Street to the city limits

• Dodd Street from Marker Street to a dead end

District 4

• Riverside Drive from Padenreich Avenue to Knucklewood Street

District 5

• Usry Drive from South 11 ^th Street to a dead end

• 1865 Eastside Drive from the main road to a dead end

District 7

• Crabapple Lane from Tabor Road to a dead end

• Marjorie Circle from Brow Drive to a dead end

• Marjorie Circle from Rebecca Way to Brow Drive

The council passed the measure on its first reading after a unanimous consent vote. “With pending weather setting in, we’re always up against a timeline,” Williamson said. “We want to hurry up and get this started while we’ve got good, hot weather.”

Ford has signaled future plans for the city to acquire the equipment and personnel to do street paving in house.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden targets some of its 'worst streets' in 2024 resurfacing plan