As Auburn gets ready for summer, it is also taking the first steps toward patching up its damaged roads after another winter.

But the city will also be doing the work with a smaller budget than last year.

City officials have compiled a list of 18 stretches of road proposed to received major work as part of this year's road improvement program. The city council approved $1.2 million in serial bonds last week, and also authorized advertising a request for proposals.

That amount is down slightly from last year's road program, which had a budget of $1.4 million. The remaining $200,000 is being used for the city's annual effort to improve its sidewalks, City Manager Mark Palesh said Monday.

“I hope in years to come we can start increasing it, again,” Palesh said. “But in this economy, we just have to be as frugal as we can.”

Auburn has 105 miles of city streets and 350 miles of lanes within its limits. City engineers drive the entirety of those streets every year to identify where work is needed the most, according to city officials.

Also included as part of this year's program are more than 30 streets with problematic spots that would receive some small-scale milling or patch work instead of new surfaces. William Lupien, Auburn's superintendent of engineering services, said the patch work is meant to increase the drivability of the roads.

“We have a large list,” Lupien said of streets that could use work. “We start trimming the list down to use the money we have available.”

Some of the road improvement funds also go toward curb work, as well as sealing cracks and heater scarifying, Lupien said.

City officials still need to take a few steps before hitting the pavement.

It usually takes about three weeks to allow bids to come in, at which point the engineering department will check references for the lowest qualified bidder and make its recommendation to the city council.

Included in this year's proposed road work is a new top for Market Street. Palesh said that work is expected to be included as part of the city's proposal to improve the Market Street Park along the Owasco River.

Half of the park project, which the council approved in March, will be funded by up to $500,000 in state grants. The rest of the work must be matched by the city, according to the proposal.

Palesh said he expects effective road work this year despite the tighter budget. But there just never seems to be enough money to go around when it comes to roads.

“I could spend $4 million per year on roads and probably just scratch the surface,” Palesh said.

Auburn's proposed road work

The city of Auburn is proposing work on the following roads this summer:

Major road work

Lansing Street, from Nelson Street to North Lewis Street

Park Avenue, from North Fulton Street to Nelson Street

Nelson Street, from Seymour Street to Lansing Street

Logan Street, from Osborne Street to 44 Logan St.

McIntosh Drive, from Murray Street to Auburn Plaza

Washington Street, from Wall Street to Seymour Street

Hamilton Avenue, from South Street to Burt Avenue

North Marvine Avenue, from Ross Street to Drummond Street

North Hoopes Avenue, from East Genesee Street to Ross Street

Market Street, from Genesee Street to the Auburn Fire Department

Teller Avenue, from Walnut Street to Frances Street

Cross Street, from Seymour Street to Cottage Street

Seneca Parkway, from Prospect Street to the end

Oak Street from Clymer Street to Cottrell Street

Quill Avenue, between Clymer Street and Chapman Avenue

North Lewis Street, from Seymour Street to Ketchell Street

Murray Street Extension, from Austin Drive to the end

Ketchell Street, from Grant Avenue to North Lewis Street

• Anna Street, from Owasco Street to Augustus Street

• Seymour Street, from Grant Avenue to Franklin Street

• Franklin Street, from Foote Street to Seymour Street

• Highland Street, from South Marvine to South Hunter

• Ashbaugh Avenue, from Oak Street to Garrow Street

• Dunning Avenue, from West Clymer Street to Linen Place

• North Fulton Street, from Lansing Street to Boston Avenue

• Indicates alternate project in the event that one or more of the original proposals is completed by someone other than the city.

Tentatively scheduled to receive some small amounts of milling, patch work or other miscellaneous work

Pulaski Street

Shevchenko Avenue

North Fulton Street

Harnden Street

Derby Avenue

Dunning Avenue

Brookfield Place

Quill Avenue

Hamilton Avenue

Wheeler Street

Van Anden Street

Albany Street

Perrine Street

Clark Street

Grove Avenue

Cottage Street

Steel Street

Lansing Street

Grover Street

Ross Street

Frances Street

North Division Street

State Street

Standart Avenue

North Seward Avenue

North Street

South Street

North Hoopes Avenue

Highland Street

Havens Avenue

Washington Street

Dill Street

West Genesee Street

Seymour Street

Prospect Street

Murray Street