Downtown Dover street paving draws praise
DOVER ― Summer paving in the city of Dover is nearly complete, and the handling of the project is drawing praise from officials and residents alike.
Interim Mayor Shane Gunnoe thanked Newton Asphalt for the job it did on blacktopping the streets, and he thanked downtown businesses for their patience.
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Additional streets outside the downtown will be paved in the coming weeks. These include Race Street between Fourth Street and Slingluff Avenue, Walnut Street between 23rd and 15th streets, 27th, 28th and 29th streets and the approaches to the Wooster Avenue bridge.
The bridge will be closed for a day when the approaches are graded and repaved, Gunnoe said. "The city will announce that date in the near future once we have it confirmed with the contractor."
This work will be done after the completion of the Tuscarawas Avenue paving project by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the city.
In total, paving projects this year in Dover are expected to exceed $2.5 million.
Service Director Dave Douglas also thanked downtown businesses and residents who live in the area for their cooperation.
"It went very, very well. We had very few problems," he said. "They really worked hard at trying to get their customers in and out, and also the residents who live in the downtown area were very gracious and very patient. I really appreciate that, and it does look great. We've needed this for a long time."
Prior to the paving, Gunnoe and Douglas talked to business owners to let them know the schedule and what to expect.
"I'd like to thank you and Mayor Gunnoe on being proactive on the downtown paving project, notifying businesses ahead of time on what the scope of the project was going to be," Councilman Kevin Korns told Douglas. "I think that helped ease the process the last couple of weeks on the flow and everything."
John Wallace, pastor of Dover First Moravian Church, also thanked the city for the paving project.
"The downtown never looked better," he said. "I have lived here for 13 years, and I was so pleased to see how everything came together. It's wonderful when a plan comes together."
He added, "I realize that a city road facelift will only last a few years before the winter freezes and the freeze and thaw of early spring and the rush of the rains in springtime and the hot summer days, the dog days that are still to come, and the asphalt will start to fail. I get that. But for now, they look great."
Wallace then presented Douglas with an award made out of Legos, with black licorice to represent the newly paved streets.
In other business, Gunnoe reported that the lanes in Maple Grove Cemetery were closed on Monday and Tuesday due to crack-sealing and paving.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Paving of streets in downtown Dover draws praise
