Project Information

Updated May 26, 2023

Dozens of miles of City streets have significant numbers of potholes deeper than 2-inches and/or areas where the upper 2-inches or less of pavement are missing due to a phenomenon known as surface stripping, resulting in unsafe conditions for drivers and pedestrians. The number of streets exhibiting these severe pavement distresses continues to grow with each passing year.  In recent years, the Public Works department struggled to repair these distressed pavement sections and in the process were forced to neglect other core duties, such as street sweeping. In 2023, the number of streets with deep potholes and surface stripping have increased significantly such that Public Works staff are unable to maintain these distressed pavement sections in a timely manner.  These poor pavement conditions are primarily the result of older streets being constructed with pavement sections that are less substantial than today’s standards require, followed by decades of minimal pavement maintenance. Other factors include the negative effects of surface stripping under sealcoats, followed by last winter’s severe weather conditions with record breaking rain and snowfall totals and a higher than normal number of freeze-thaw cycles. 

In 2022, during the 2023 budget process, the City Council authorized bonding approximately $12M for additional Pavement Management Program (PMP) projects (pavement overlays and street reconstructions) over the next 10 years. The City Council also authorized budgeting an additional $750,000 to the streets maintenance fund for temporary spray patching improvements on an estimated 19 miles of City streets that were not identified for overlay or reconstruction improvements in the 2022 - 2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) but are exhibiting significant surface stripping damage.  The bituminous pavement on these streets is prone to accelerated deterioration due to water pooling in the surface depressions, which is then forced between the pavement base and the wear courses as vehicle tires drop into the depressions and push the water into pavement voids. The serviceability of these streets will therefore continue to decline while other streets receive overlay and reconstruction improvements.  Staff therefore recommended spray patching the estimated 19 miles of streets while PMP projects in the 2022 - 2031 CIP are completed, and until streets with PASER ratings of 4 or less that were not included in the 2022-2031 CIP can be reconstructed.  

This Spring, City staff developed plans to hire one or more contractors to perform temporary pavement repair work throughout the City in 2023.  While developing this plan it was observed that several different types of pavement repairs would be needed to most cost-effectively maintain pavement on streets awaiting overlay and reconstruction improvements. The three types of pavement repairs recommended by Staff for 2023 include spray patching areas with shallow surface stripping damage, patching potholes deeper than 2-inches, and completing 2-inch mill and overlay improvements over critical areas with extensive potholes resulting in significant calls for service and vehicle damage claims.  Pavement striping will also be needed in some areas after the contracted work is complete.

On April 25th, City Council directed the City Engineer to solicit quotes for contracted services to immediately patch as many of the highest priority deep potholes across the City as possible. A figure of the streets proposed to receive priority pothole patching as part of this project may be seen here.

On May 9th, the Ramsey City Council adopted Resolution #23-100 accepting quotes and awarding a contract for construction for Improvement project #23-15, 2023 Priority Pothole Patching Contracted Services, to Diversified Paving, Inc. (DPI) in the amount of $139,269.00. 

On May 22nd, DPI started patching potholes in Area 1 and will progress to subsequent areas until finishing work in Area 7, which is scheduled to be on or before June 9th. 

Funds for this project are proposed to come from the $750,000 dedicated to the street maintenance budget in 2022 for temporary pavement repairs in 2023. 

If you have questions regarding this project, please contact City Engineer/Public Works Director Bruce Westby by email or by phone at 763-433-9825.  

Updated May 12, 2023

On May 9^th, the Ramsey City Council accepted quotes and awarded a contract for 2023 Priority Pothole Patching Contracted Services to Diversified Paving, Inc. in the amount of $139,269.00. Funds for the work are proposed to come from the $750,000 budgeted for temporary pavement repairs in 2023.

Dozens of miles of City streets have significant numbers of potholes deeper than 2-inches and/or numerous areas where the upper 2-inches or less of pavement area missing, generally known as surface stripping. This is resulting in poor and unsafe conditions for drivers and pedestrians. The number of streets exhibiting these severe pavement distresses have grown significantly in recent years.

In 2022, the Public Works department struggled to maintain all of the distressed pavement sections and in the process spent a large amount of time patching potholes, which forced them to neglect other core duties.

In 2023, the number of streets with deep potholes and surface stripping have increased significantly such that Public Works staff are able to maintain very few of these distressed pavement sections. This is due in part to last winter’s severe weather conditions, as well as insufficient proactive pavement maintenance over the life of the pavement.

On April 25th, City Council directed the City Engineer to solicit quotes for contracted services to immediately patch as many of the highest priority potholes as possible and on May 9^th the City Engineer presented Resolution #23-100 accepting quotes and awarding contract for Improvement project #23-15, 2023 Priority Pothole Patching contracted services and it was approved.

A figure of the streets included in the priority pothole patching may be seen here.

Staff encourages impacted residents to contact us with questions or input regarding this project. Please email City Engineer, Bruce Westby, reach out by phone at 763-433-9825 with any questions.