More than 200 miles of Durham's roads are rated poor to failed, according to the city's latest pavement condition study. The city now maintains more than 800 miles of streets, and the study puts the total repair backlog at roughly $179M.
The average road scored 69 out of 100, landing in the "fair" range on the pavement condition index. Scores below 55 fall into poor or worse categories.
- Residents on Alabama Avenue said potholes have been a problem for more than a decade. One neighbor cited recent construction activity as a factor in the deterioration.
- The study estimates at least $25M per year is needed just to maintain current service levels, not to close the backlog.
- City officials said the goal is to match the right treatment to the right streets, weighing cost and traffic volume. They acknowledged the network is growing and so are the costs to maintain it.
The city is adding about 8 miles of new paved roads per year, which will keep pushing that maintenance figure higher. Which streets get treatment first, and when, has not been publicly detailed.