Citizens of Pine Bluff have been making their complaints regarding city streets known for some time now. Deltaplex News reporters constantly hear of complaints about the condition of roads from local citizens, and it is an issue that the city is working to address.
Pine Bluff Street Department Manager Tom Bennett visited with Deltaplex News Monday morning on the Oldies 101.3 morning show to discuss some of the issues facing the city road department.
Speaking with Greg Horne, Bennett said they have a “high volume” of complaints from local citizens that they are trying to address with around 25 employees.
Horne asked Bennett if he has enough equipment and supplies for his 25 workers. Bennett said that other than an issue with getting hot mix asphalt for a few months they generally don’t have issues getting what they need.
City Councilmember Stephen Shaner joined Bennett in studio Monday morning. He said that the City Council will be working to get more funds to the Street Department to help with some overlay projects very soon.
Bennett also discussed areas that the street department is currently concentrating on.
He also spoke more on what thermostriping is and how it helps city roads.
One of those issues is the constant flooding of city streets when we receive a considerable amount of rain.
Bennett said one major issue is that the city is still using piping systems put in place in the 1940’s when the city was originally developed, and the current city size has exceeded the maximum requirements that the current pipes installed can handle.
Bennett also said that there will be some projects forthcoming on 28th Avenue, one of Pine Bluff’s heaviest traveled areas.
