Public Works
Streets & Highways
Operations

Street Maintenance

Operations crews within the Streets and Highways Division of Public Works are responsible for the daily maintenance of the City street network including:

• Pothole repairs
  
  Potholes form when the road surface becomes worn and cracked. Cracks allow water to seep into the asphalt. The freezing and thawing of this water creates movement within the structure that weakens the asphalt. As this occurs, small pieces of aggregate are removed. A pothole develops over time as traffic continues to place a load on the weakened asphalt.
  
  Operations crews typically respond to a reported pothole within 24 hours. A supervisor will inspect the reported pothole and have a crew repair the pothole as the condition necessitates. In bad weather, such as rain or snow, COLD MIX asphalt is used. COLD MIX is a temporary patch that safes up the pothole until weather permits the use of HOT MIX asphalt. HOT MIX asphalt is used for a permanent patch.
  

• Repairing joints in roadway
  
  Permanent repairs are scheduled as needed and as funds allow through contractual services. Also see milling of hazardous bumps.
  

• Milling of hazardous bumps (blow-ups)
  
  Operations crews mill bumps (blow-ups) that occur in the roadway surface. Movement of the concrete under the asphalt causes these raised areas. This typically occurs at joints where two sections of concrete come together.
  

• Mend-ins for concrete work
  
  After contractors working for the Department of Public Works have repaired curb and gutter and/or other concrete infrastructure, operations crews tie the new concrete into the existing asphalt.
  

• Removal of hazardous sidewalk and temporary repairs
  
  Operations crews remove hazardous sections of sidewalk and backfill with stone dust (granite screenings) or COLD MIX and/or place cones or barrels until the contractor can address the area with the permanent repair. Hazardous sections of curb may sometime be replaced with an asphalt curb until the permanent repair can take place.
  

• Alley maintenance
  
  Operations crews maintain alleys ONLY where the City of Portsmouth garbage collection occurs. This takes place in the Waterview and Port Norfolk sections of the City. Maintenance involves grading and placing of crusher run in alleys.
  

• Shoulder maintenance
  
  Shoulders protect the roadway by allowing water to freely run off the edge of the paved surface. Operations crews place crusher run and stone dust on the shoulders of City streets. Crews are typically responsible for maintaining a 2-ft shoulder off the edge of the pavement.
  

• 
  Removal of graffiti (obscenities or gang-related) on the street
  

• Small projects such as assisting with building demolition (City property), grading projects, etc.
  

• Snow Removal

Paving (resurfacing) of City streets is contracted through the Engineering Department. The Streets and Highways Divisions works closely with the Engineering Department in selecting the streets that are paved under the annual contract.

Teams of professional personnel are ready to respond to any concerns that may occur along the City’s roadways, alleys and sidewalks.

Concrete Repairs

The City of Portsmouth performs permanent concrete repairs on an annual basis with maintenance funds. Concrete failures typically are the result of tree roots or heavy loads. Sidewalk and curb and gutter are the main types of infrastructure repaired under this program. Repairs occur on City right of way. The concrete maintenance program prioritizes removing and repairing potential trip hazards in sidewalk and alleviating drainage problems in curb and gutter. ADA ramps are installed under this program and also by request out of capital funds.


Did You Know?

• The Streets and Highways Division maintains 888 lane miles of roadways
  

• In FY 05-06, the Streets and Highways Division used 10, 473 square yards of asphalt to repair, potholes and perform skin patches and mend-ins; graded 87,398 linear feet of alleyways; and maintained 151,619 linear feet of shoulders
  

• In FY 05-06, City of Portsmouth performed the following contractual concrete repairs where made 30 ADA Ramps; 4500 square yards of sidewalk; 3500 linear feet of curb and gutter; 500 square yards of brick pavers; and 200 miscellaneous concrete repairs
  

• The City of Portsmouth only maintains alleys where City refuse is collected
  

• Pavement moves according to air temperature
  

• Standing water is the #1 enemy of asphalt
  

• Shoulders are an integral part of the roadway because they allow water to run away from the pavement
  

• The repair of driveways is typically the responsibility of the property owner

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