REVAMPING OUR ROADS: THE FUTURE OF STREET PAVING
Milling and Paving Goals
The goal is to mill, grade and pave township roads, which will allow stormwater to reach catch basins, while leaving the driving surface in a safe and smooth condition.
Making Paving a Priority
Until several years ago, the Millcreek Township Streets Department handled all street paving inhouse. However, as equipment aged and manpower became increasingly limited, continuing this practice proved to be a challenge. In 2021, the township sold its asphalt plant, and the facility was subsequently dismantled and removed from township property. Even before the sale, Millcreek began outsourcing the milling and paving of township streets through competitive bidding, allowing for a larger number of roadways to be paved compared to the previous in-house efforts.
Since 2021, Millcreek Township has heavily invested into road infrastructure using both ARPA Grant Funds and Liquid Fuels Funds to pave a record miles of roads. Not only has Millcreek been tackling areas in urgent need of repair, the Millcreek Streets Department has devoted resources and workforce to ensuring the longevity of its existing roads by investing in crack sealing and patching. This aggressive approach has resulted in significant improvements in the condition of local streets. While other grant funding is being sought, Millcreek Township continues to commit resources into road infrastructure like never before.
Using Modern Technology for Road Evaluations
Millcreek Township has embraced modern technology to enhance its street paving decisions, utilizing Geographic Information Systems( GIS) and Asset Management software. These computer-based tools have been instrumental in identifying road issues, allowing the township to gain a clearer understanding of conditions and trends within Millcreek ' s streets. By leveraging these technologies, the township is able to make more informed decisions about which roads require attention. illcreek
MILLCREEK TOWNSHIP NEWS
The paving list is created based on a comprehensive evaluation process that includes safety concerns, the history of previously paved roads, road condition assessments, and work orders completed for maintenance. Consistent issues like potholes, cracking, and infrastructure changes such as utility installations also factor into paving priorities. Additionally, the township looks for opportunities to group roads in neighborhoods or near one another to reduce paving costs by minimizing the mobilization of construction equipment. Federal aid routes continue to receive funding, and Millcreek Township typically paves 1-2 federal aid routes each year as part of this broader paving strategy.
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