South Lebanon details pavement-management plan after Morrow Road reconstruction; Choice 1 explains data-driven prioritization

The South Lebanon City Council heard an extended presentation from Public Works Director Harry Holbert and Troy Lee of Choice 1 Engineering on the city's newly implemented pavement-management program and recent work on Morrow Road.

Holbert told the council the program provides a statewide-recognized street-rating system and gives staff an empirical basis to prioritize maintenance, crack-sealing, mill-and-fill, and reconstruction rather than relying on ad hoc complaints. He credited engineer Jerry and Choice 1 for producing the plan and said council funding has allowed the city to begin implementing the multi-year schedule.

Holbert described a recent emergency repair on Morrow Road: crews uncovered a 9-foot-deep excavation after finding the sewer main had been pierced during underground drilling by a cable company. The damaged sewer main caused silt and gravel to migrate into downstream lines, producing repeated blockages and ultimately requiring full sewer-main replacement and significant excavation. "We excavated all that out just so we could get down there and repair the sewer main," Holbert said, adding crews worked through the night to secure the site.

Troy Lee said Choice 1 used an ODOT-based, empirical rating system to evaluate the city's roughly 13 miles of streets and develop a five-year plan tied to budget scenarios. "The typical lifespan of a roadway before you see major failures is 10 to 15 years," Lee said. "With ongoing maintenance, crack sealing and mill-and-fill, you can extend it another 10 to 15 years at about 10% of the cost of full reconstruction per linear foot." Choice 1 provides an Excel-based tracking file the city can update annually to re-evaluate priorities and document new failures caused by utilities or infiltration.

Council members asked about specific design choices on Morrow Road, including a 4-foot narrowing and installation of a tree lawn on a truck route. Lee said the corridor narrowing was a traffic-calming measure implemented within design guidance: "When you have the narrower corridor, you get vehicles that slow down because it becomes a little bit tighter," he said. One council member expressed concern: "For the record, I hope we don't narrow any more streets." The presenters said the plan is flexible and that council and staff can adjust priorities when unexpected problems emerge.

Holbert and Lee also credited intergovernmental funding that allows the city to leverage local dollars and noted safety precautions during active work, including temporary lane closures and sheriff overtime to direct traffic on busy corridors.

The council did not take formal action on the presentation; staff said the pavement plan will be used for next-year budgeting and to support grant applications.