By Cameron Brown
On Feb. 3, Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow announced his proposal for an $850,000 paving plan for the city that will take effect this spring.
The project is going to be adding to the $5 million that Barlow has already spent on road paving since he took office in 2016. This year’s main focus will be the eastside of the city.
“I’m hoping to give some extra attention to the east side of the community this year in the paving plan to repave some of the worst roads in the city,” Barlow said. “As always, we’ll maximized the amount of CHIPS funding provided to us by the State of New York and will work strategically to get the best bang for our buck, allowing us to pave as much roadway as possible this season.”
The eastern streets are not the only roads Barlow has his sights set on. According to a City of Oswego press release, West First Street, Erie Street and Route 48 are a few west end roads that the people of Oswego can look forward to seeing redone.
On Feb. 7, Oswego’s Common Council met at city hall to discuss the paving plan among other public requests with Barlow. Other requests from the public included the Engineering Office requesting authorization from Barlow to sign Change Orders No. 2 and 3 with the Kenyon Pipeline Inspection, the Oswego Lions Club holding the Annual River’s Edge Craft Show to be held this June and many more.
“We have made a lot of headway in these last six years and I’m looking forward to doing another $850,000 in paving in 2022,” Barlow said.
In comparison to the previous paving plans Oswego has seen since Barlow took his seat in office, this year’s budget for the project is $100,000 more. Barlow continued and said that 2022 is harder to project and formulate plans since Onondaga County’s contract for asphalt concrete paving is up to be rebid this year.
“Everybody in the city I’m sure has their own opinion about streets that aren’t on the plan that should be on the plan,” Barlow said. “If you look at the map it’s really hard to deny the strategy we’re going in the ground we’ve gained on our infrastructure, but I think this is a solid plan. Each of the seven councilors have a couple streets to hang their hat on, cover some of the busiest areas of the city and in some areas the roads are deterioratin.”
In response to a question as to how the project will affect the local businesses on the streets the paving will be on, Barlow said that each year, the city’s government publicizes the plan twice: when it is proposed and again once it is approved.
“At least a week before the milling starts, we put up no parking signs and we actually go to the businesses and homeowners on the route, and explain that the paving plan is happening here,” Barlow said. “We actually go door to door and hand out flyers with information, they have a point of contact, somebody to call, description of the work, and it’s door to door so they can meet somebody and ask any questions of the person.”
Barlow has been in office since 2016 and he is currently the youngest mayor in the history of New York State. Before he won, he spent his time greeting locals and asking for feedback from citizens and since then, he has been set on improving infrastructure and revitalizing Oswego’s communities.
Since the beginning of this year, Barlow has been looking forward to him and his administration fully realizing the “aggressive and comprehensive” agenda he has for 2022. With the previous pavings done and another project beginning, Oswego residents can yet again anticipate a better road for tomorrow.
Image via Flickr
