Sparta Taking Bids For Start of 8-Year Paving Plan

Sparta has graded all 203 city streets from worst to first as the city begins its eight-year paving plan.

21 percent of the city’s streets received a D and F grade but the plan is to have no F grade in 2022. Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the city wants to pave just over 6 miles of street, but it is dependent on oil prices.

“A lot of time when oil prices jump, now their bids will only be good for a certain amount of time,” Quick said. “But this way we have some streets that we can pave at the beginning of the Summer. The other ones, we’re going to work on our water and sewer projects and we’ll do those in the Fall.”

Quick said that issues with streets go right along with water and sewer. He said having an inventory list of streets and their quality gives the department direction.

“It gives us a better idea of where we need to go as far as our water and sewer,” Quick said. “Because a lot of the issues with the streets go right along with water and sewer. That lets us know if we need to go replace a water line, if we need to upgrade a sewer line in that area.”

Quick said streets with water and sewer projects around them will be addressed in this plan.

“We have an extensive list and it goes with alligatoring, it goes with the cuts it goes with water, sewer projects,” Quick said. “So we have some water and sewer projects that we’re going to do this year and those streets will definitely be paved. But now some of the other ones, if we don’t have the money we’ve got a list that we’re going by this year and next year. So we’ll adjust as money comes in.”

Quick said it does not matter the location of the F grade streets.

“Whichever streets are bad, that’s the ones we’re going to work on,” Quick said. “Regardless of where it is in the city.”

Quick said bids should be in at the start of April. City Administrator Brad Hennessee said 2021 bids will be compared to 2020 bids and the paving plan maps will be redone based on prices.

The paving is being paid for through the city’s local option sales tax.