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Woodstock council hears five‑year streets update; staff urges $3M–$4M annual preservation budget
Summary
City Engineer Chris Teat told the Woodstock City Council the five‑year roads program lifted the city's PCI from the mid‑40s toward a projected mid‑60s rating and recommended shifting from reconstruction to preservation, with an annual funding target of about $3M–$4M to sustain gains.
City Engineer Chris Teat presented a five‑year update on Woodstock’s enhanced streets program on Feb. 17, saying the city invested roughly $50 million over the last five years and resurfaced or reconstructed about 50 miles of streets to raise the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) from near 44 in 2015 toward an estimated 67.
The presentation explained the original five‑year goal — $10 million annually — was intended to catch the system up and avoid escalating reconstruction costs. Teat said the program improved the share of streets in good or very good condition and reduced those in poor or failed condition, but rising construction inflation constrained mileage delivered compared with early estimates.
Teat told the council the next phase must focus on preservation treatments — reclamite, microsurfacing, chip sealing and crack sealing — which extend pavement life at a fraction of reconstruction costs. Staff modelled sustained annual investment scenarios and recommended a $3 million–$4 million annual program as a sustainable "sweet spot" to maintain and modestly improve system condition without incurring unsustainable debt.
Council members asked technical and budget questions, including coordination with water and sewer funds when underground utility work is required, whether preservation units are reported as lane miles or full street miles, and whether some smaller repairs could be performed in‑house. Teat said utility upgrades (water mains, sanitary sewer) are typically funded from water and sewer funds and noted some projects will require coordination and additional funding.
On cost detail, Teat cited an approximate unit cost for reclamite of $22,000 per mile (reported as a full‑street lane‑mile basis during Q&A) and said preservation applications are timed to extend life by several years if applied early in a pavement’s life. He also said the city will continue to pursue external grant programs (STP and ITEP) to offset local costs and highlighted a Raffle Road project where state funds covered a large share of the contract.
The mayor and council praised the program’s progress and directed that staff continue to refine the proposal and bring options forward during the capital‑improvement planning process. The discussion will continue in upcoming CIP workshops.
