Mayor Shammas Malik of Akron is putting roads on the map—quite literally—with the release of the city's 2025 resurfacing program, covering 48 miles of roadways in need of renewal. The initiative marks a continued uptick in infrastructure updates, graduating from an annual average of 16 miles to nearly triple that amount, thanks to a modest 0.25% income tax increase approved by voters in 2017. The list, which includes 34 new miles and a strategy to address 14 miles of unfinished business from previous years, is pegged at an investment of a cool $5.75 million for resurfacing and an additional $2.15 million designated for concrete pavement rehabilitation in Ward 6.
With a blend of pomp and pragmatism, Mayor Malik shared the plans with the public, announcing, "We’re proud to announce this year’s resurfacing program which covers 34 new miles of roadway and 14 miles of carryover work," according to a statement from the City of Akron. He followed by assuring residents that they are "already over halfway done with the carryover roads" and are eager to roll out the 2025 efforts. The city’s pledge to prioritize “worst first” streets is evident in the roster of roads set for a facelift, placing high-traffic and severely deteriorated thoroughfares at the forefront of this year's program.
Using the pavement condition index (PCI), a quantifiable measure of a roadway’s health, Akron's administration has sifted through its streets to identify the most precarious pavements. Among those queued for attention are key stretches, such as Cuyahoga Falls Avenue and Big Falls Avenue, with some streets only now seeing work completed due to previous delays in lead line replacements and other utility work. Full details of the freshly paved prospects can be found on the city's announcement page.
Akron's roads have journeyed from a starting point of "fair" to "good," a testament to the sustained roadwork over recent years. Signage will appear like spring daffodils along the designated streets to herald the pending work, and residents will need to remove their parked cars during the rescheduled dates. Updates will be posted periodically on Akron's social media channels, keeping citizens informed about the progress of the projects.
Meanwhile, Akron's pothole-filling regimen continues with the diligence of a clockmaker, dispatching crews to tend to 200-300 craters per diem during peak season. Service requests undergo a swift inspection and rectification process, with every report reviewed within 48 hours, as the city strives to keep its streets as smooth as the procedures it has implemented. To report a pothole or recommend a future road for resurfacing, residents can contact the 311 service by phone, website, or app.
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