You Ask, Patch Answers: When's My Street Being Paved?

With all the attention the downtown is getting, some people have asked when their streets will be getting paved.

Mayor Donnalee Lozeau explained that only one of the city's four crews is dedicated to the downtown project, leaving four crews for the rest of the city's 700-plus lane miles of roadway.Although the city is working toward a regular maintenance schedule, currently roads are paved based on a list compiled by the engineering department in order of priority based on the PCI – pavement condition index, a sort of mathematical equation based on condition and use.

"Say you have a side street in need of paving with 10 houses, and you compare it to Main Street, and both have the same PVI and need to be paved, the 'benefit value' of Main Street is greater than the side street because it's going to have more traffic," Lozeau explained. "Philosophically speaking, the squeaky wheel does not get the pavement."

Over the past 30 to 40 years the city hasn't found a way to make a pavement program a priority, Lozeau said. She believes it's time to come up with a plan to get the roads up to speed and then maintain them.  

"Over the next six months, we're going to try to work out an overall plan for what do we do and what will it take. I don't know the answer for Nashua, yet, but we know some communities that have come up with a 10 to 15 year plan.  It's something we've done with culverts and with our vehicles, and our buildings. It's time we have a road maintenance plan," Lozeau said.

Here's the current list of roads slated for paving. They are spread pretty well around the city, with the heaviest concentration of roads in Wards 5 and 9, according to the list.

(If you can't click the link, below are the remainder of the roads slated for paving in late August/early September of 2013:)

• Westwood Dr from Tenby Dr North Entrance to Stonehaven Rd (rest of street was paved in 2005)
• Shelton St from Westwood Dr to Wethersfield Rd (rest of street was paved in 2005)
• Wilmington Street
  
• Rocky Hill Road
• Moe Street
• Gagnon Circle 
  

How do I report a pothole? The Street Department has set up a pothole hotline.  Residents can call 589-4797.  The caller should leave a detailed message as to the location of the pothole.  They are also asked to leave their name and phone number to contact if we are unable to locate the problem.  Potholes can also be reported online at: Pothole Report or by sending an email to: DPWRequest@nashuanh.gov