Staff report

The city of Cuyahoga Falls will pave more miles than it has since the mid-1990s with an additional $1 million allocated for street resurfacing this year. 

City Engineer Tony Demasi said the administration and council recognized the importance of road resurfacing and budgeted $4 million for paving in 2025.  

“It was really great that we had their support,” he said.

There are about 237 centerline miles, which measure the length, not width, of roadway in Cuyahoga Falls. The city typically seeks bids for the work in March and starts in May or June.

“And we should be all done by October,” Demasi added. 

City Council unanimously authorized the public service director to enter contracts for resurfacing at its regular meeting on Feb. 10. At the prior week’s public and industrial improvements committee meeting, Demasi said the paving list is based on a distress rating done in even-numbered years by Pavement Management Group.

Councilwoman Meika Marie Penta, ward 3, said the council and administration have consistently tried to budget more money for street resurfacing, noting that rebuilding a road is much more expensive.

“We try to do the best we can and always try to improve the roads cost-effectively,” she said during the committee meeting.

The funding will allow the city to pave 24 miles this year — six more than last year. 

“That’ll be the most lane miles since about the mid-1990s, which was when the income tax was increased from 1.5% to 2% specifically for this type of work,” Demasi said.

The average age of streets to be paved this year is 20.5 years old, and some of the city’s oldest roads have existed for more than 100 years. Demasi said fibers intended to reduce cracking and increase durability will be added to new pavement and a sealer will be spread on roads paved last year in an attempt to increase their lifespan.        

Councilwoman Mary Nichols-Rhodes, at-large, complimented the city engineer’s willingness to try new methods for potentially better outcomes.

“I really love the idea that you’re using preservation techniques,” she said.

This year’s street paving list consists of: