Greeley launches annual Keep Greeley Moving construction initiative for street improvements

As spring arrives in Greeley, Colorado, the city gears up for its annual construction season with the "Keep Greeley Moving" program. This initiative focuses on essential street and infrastructure maintenance, ensuring that sidewalks, curbs, and roads remain safe and accessible for residents.

Paige Millen, an engineering technician, explained that the program is responsible for maintaining approximately 850 lane miles of asphalt and 700 miles of concrete infrastructure. The work not only enhances the city's appearance but also eliminates hazards that could pose risks to pedestrians and drivers alike.

Funded by a special sales tax of 0.65% approved by Greeley voters in 2015 and renewed in 2022, "Keep Greeley Moving" has significantly expanded the city's ability to address a backlog of necessary repairs. Millen noted that the program has allowed for substantial improvements in the condition of Greeley's roads over the past decade.

One of the most common maintenance activities is road overlay, which involves grinding down the existing surface and applying new asphalt. This process effectively creates a new road, extending its lifespan through various treatments like chip sealing and crack sealing. These methods help to mitigate deterioration and maximize the value of taxpayer investments.

To measure the effectiveness of the program, the city uses the Pavement Quality Index (PQI), which assesses road conditions on a scale from 0 to 100. Greeley has seen its citywide average rise from 61 to approximately 70, indicating a marked improvement in road quality since the program's inception.

"Keep Greeley Moving" typically kicks off in May and runs through the fall, during which city officials identify roads in need of repairs. This ongoing commitment to infrastructure maintenance is vital for ensuring the safety and well-being of Greeley residents as they navigate their daily lives.