Alley Chat
The City of UP is in the process of repaving my alley. It all started about two months ago or so when they updated the gas meters. Heck, it could have been last month — I can’t remember — but ever since the update, they have been repaving. They pave a section behind one house at one end of the alley. Then about five days later, they’ll pave another section behind another house at the other end. And so it goes back and forth.
This morning I was alley-chatting with a nice, dog-walking couple and I asked why. Why not take a week or two and pave the whole thing at once, or at least half one week and half the other? They didn’t have a clue either, so I’m putting the question to the masses: what is the method to this madness?
It took close to 18 months to update the utilities and repave our UP alley. And yes, while our alley is equivalent to 2 blocks long, it was abundantly clear the crew was undermanned and deployed elsewhere half of the time. Materials being relatively constant cost-wise, I suspect the City chose a lower contract based on a lower labor content.
It’s not so much the time, it hasn’t been inconvenient and they’re doing a great job, it’s the way they do it.
Here’s a theory – if they did the whole alley, then everyone would have to park on the streets and no one would get trash service for a week (concrete takes at least 5 days to cure for car traffic). The way they are doing it now, it doesn’t interrupt trash service and there is maybe one or two extra cars on the street. Totally just a guess! Something for me to look forward to – we’re at the very south end of UP….the last for the meter moving and the last for resurfacing.
If you want an accurate answer call Randy Fleming…
Randy Fleming
Right-of-Way Manager
City of University Park
3800 University Blvd 75205
214-987-5405