The city of Chillicothe plans to spend just over $1 million to improve its streets this year with the 2009-10 installment of the permanent street program amassing the lion’s share of funding.

Third Street, between Mitchell Avenue and Brunswick Street will be reconstructed with a concrete road surface as well as concrete curb and gutter. The radius will be improved at all intersections along this stretch of roadway and minor storm water work will be done, according to Street Superintendent Hugh Musselman. The intersections along Third Street are at Brunswick, Edgerton, Turner, St. Paul and Mitchell Avenue. This section of roadway — between 1,500 and 1,800 feet in length — is slated for reconstruction because of an increase in commercial traffic flow and the difficulty of commercial vehicles to negotiate the intersections, Musselman said. Funding for the permanent street is part of the proposed city budget expected to be approved by city council members Monday night. Also Monday night, the council will review the seven bids received for the project. Musselman said that some of the bids had come in below the engineer’s estimate and that a recommendation will be made to the council on Monday. If approved, work could begin as early as April 15. The project would have a 180-day (calendar day) schedule. The Third Street project is funded through the half-cent sales tax which goes to the permanent street fund.

Other roads slated for significant improvements are West Mohawk Road and Litton Road, with both projects being funded through the capital improvement sales tax fund. The West Mohawk Road project, estimated to cost $58,755, involves asphalt work beginning at a point just east of the water tower and extending to Litton Road. The Litton Road project, estimated to cost $25,000, involves asphalting at a point beginning just north of West Mohawk and going 900 feet south. Musselman said that the city has been in discussions with Chillicothe Township and Rich Hill Township officials regarding possible cost-share commitments as portions of these roads are in those townships.

Also this year, the city plans to continue its annual street overlay project with around 20 blocks of streets to be improved. The city has budgeted $176,225 for the program which will involve milling road surfaces where needed so that the actual street elevation is not changed and draining not affected. While some streets will have just an overlay, most will have some milling done, Musselman said. Streets identified for the annual overlay program are determined through a rating system and all roads of this year’s project fell below 50, the superintendent stated. The proposed roads identified are:

• Alexander, from Trenton to 12th Street
• Asher, from Madison to Waples
• Asher, from Waples to Curtis
• Curtis, from Church to Asher
• J.F.K., from Broadway to Oak
• J.F.K., from Oak to Maple
• J.F.K., from Maple to Easton
• Monroe, from Bryan to Springhill
• Monroe, from Springhill to Normal
• Monroe, from Normal to Irvin
• Sunset, from Calhoun to Polk
• 12th, from Alexander to 10th
• 10th, from Alexander to 12th
• Violet, from Herriford to Henry.

Alleys to be resurfaced include ones from Clay to Ann (between Locust and Elm), from Clay to Ann (between Cherry and Walnut), and from Second Street to First (between Highway 65 and Locust).