The Era spoke to officials from both Bradford City and Bradford Township regarding salt reserves, road maintenance and the impact of winter weather on local streets.
Chip Comilla, director of public works and recreation for Bradford City, said the city’s road salt reserves are “about average” for this time of year and stated that the city has been doing its best filling potholes that have found their way onto the city’s roads, provided the potholes are not frozen.
Jim Erwin, Bradford Township chairman of supervisors, said the township’s salt reserves may have seen more use in the 2018-19 winter as opposed to last year.
“I think we’ve used more this year than we did last year. We just got stockpiled on some, but I think we’re a little over what we used last year.
Seems like winter won’t quit this year,” Erwin said with a laugh.
Comilla explained that city employees have been out patching potholes when they are able to do so.
“We have gone out and been pothole patching. Pothole patching is only temporary; when water gets into a (patched) pothole, they pop right up,” Comilla explained. “We know it, it’s an ongoing thing.”
He added that this winter hasn’t placed any unusual challenges on city workers.
Erwin said that township workers have been working on potholes whenever they can, too.
“When we’re not plowing or sanding, we’re working on potholes. And I’m hoping we’ll get some better weather so we can fill more potholes,” Erwin explained.
He added, “I think when it finally does warm up, we’re going to see more potholes because the cold and the warmth kinda makes the potholes pop right out.”
Despite winter weather overstaying its visit, Erwin sees the township as fortunate to have avoided any hindering issues with equipment.
“We’ve actually fared pretty well with our equipment. We haven’t had any breakdowns with our plow trucks,” he said.
“Our main focus is our roads. Our roads within the last few years have gotten in pretty rough shape,” said Erwin. “But we were very lucky with our equipment this year; didn’t have any breakdowns as far as plow trucks.”
Comilla identified East Main Street –– particularly the section between High Street and East Avenue –– as having the worst condition in the city.
“That’s something we’ll have to address in the warmer months. There’s not as many potholes as there used to be. With all the repaving, we’ve made improvements. But we do have potholes that if you hit them, they’re the worst potholes in the world.”
Erwin said that Erickson Drive is in the worst condition in Bradford Township.
“That road is really rough. We’re gonna pave that this year, I’m hoping. Songbird (Road) is really rough,” said Erwin. “I think we’re in good shape pothole-wise until the warmer weather comes and they really start coming out.”
Erwin is optimistic for getting roads in Bradford Township repaired when the warm weather arrives.
“We’d like to get repairs on Erickson Drive and also Songbird Road. Those are the roads we’re getting the most complaints are.
“I think we’re getting more complaints on Songbird since more people use it, but the complaints for Erickson Drive come from the people who live on it.”
