State Budget Cutbacks Affecting Raleigh Streets

The city of Raleigh is set to lose $8 million in state funds. City officials have proposed delaying the planned re-surfacing of 35 miles of city roads. Budget cuts are cutting out some road repairs.

"It's probably approaching some of the leanest times in the 21 years that I've been here. There may have been leaner years, but we had less miles of streets," street superintendent Mac Jones said.

Jones had a plan to re-surface rough roads, with contracts awarded. Now, everything is on hold while state officials try to find more money. Until then, city officials may have to try a patchwork approach.

"Water is the worst enemy of asphalt pavement. If we can do patching to prevent water from infiltrating our subgrades, that's sometimes a Band-Aid approach, but it's a very effective Band-Aid," Jones said. "As time goes on, we're going to get larger as a city. We're going to have more streets, more people and more responsibility."

"Therefore, it just takes more money," he said.

The Raleigh City Council will vote on the road repair cutback on Tuesday.