The Citizen

With a few changes here or there, Auburn has paved the way toward starting the 2007 road improvement program.

The city's engineering office will refine the list of 33 roads or street sections targeted for repairs before putting it out to bid in the next month or so, Superintendent of Engineering Services William Lupien said.

“This is a real rough list you have,” Lupien told councilors last week. “It did snow last month so we're a little off track.”

New York State Electric and Gas has to review the street list to see where they may have problems or are planning work so they can coordinate projects.

With changes council or the city manager may suggest and delays because of conflicts with utilities companies, Lupien predicts 95 percent of the streets detailed in the potential list will get repaired.

“We know what's happening with the project and we're certainly not perfect. If the council sees roads that have more of a need, let us know,” City Manager Mark Palesh said.

A few blocks remained from last year's program because crews ran out of time.

The council already gave the nod to allow Lupien to put the repair work out for bid, but it still will have to agree to award the program to the lowest qualified bidder.

For the complete list of streets on the city's repair list, pick up a copy of the Wednesday print edition of The Citizen.