COLUMBIA -- The Columbia Public Works Department announced its 2017 Plan on Monday to the City Council. This plan works on preventative maintenance to roads and pothole restoration which Public Works Engineering Manager Richard Stone said is more cost efficient than working from the ground up and will save the city money.
“It’s like a roof of a house,” Stone said. “You try to keep good shingles on there. If some shingles come off you replace those shingles, well if you don’t replace those shingles then part of the roof fails. Kinda the same way with a road. If we can catch things before they look like they’re a problem, then it’s less costly.”
The Department of Public Works created a list of the 32 roads in need of minor restoration in Columbia, these roads will receive preventative maintenance to avoid bigger concerns in the future.
Small business owner Jim Adair whose place of work is located on one of the first roads being serviced. He said that taxpayers should be happy about this plan.
“As a taxpayer, I understand the concern to not waste more money than they have to,” Adair said. “Because at some point, they’ll want to get the underpayment from you the taxpayer.”
Stone said that by creating a cycle of repair, this helps make sure all roads are up to par.
“We’re doing the best that we can with the money and resources that we do have,” Stone said. “One of the ways that we do that is by methodically examining our roadways and spending the money where we can for roads that are in good shape and keeping them there.”
Work will begin Monday and will continue through the summer until all projects are completed.