Columbus approves street pavement analysis

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) – The City of Columbus will be launching a new path to better roadways.

The city announced Tuesday that in a late July meeting, the mayor and City Council approved a comprehensive pavement analysis.

The analysis is to be conducted by engineering firm Neel-Schaffer and will note street conditions, assign Pavement Condition Index (PCI) ratings, and recommend the most cost-effective strategies to improve and preserve Columbus streets.

After the study, it will model multiple funding scenarios, plus allow for detailed maps, cost estimates, and recommendations to guide future paving budgets and capital improvement planning.

“This project is about making more informed decisions with taxpayer dollars,” said Mayor Stephen Jones in a news release. “Before we invest millions in street improvements, we need reliable data to identify which streets need immediate attention, which can be preserved before they deteriorate, and how to maximize every dollar we spend.”

The analysis is expected to take several months.