Sandy Springs’ 300 miles of roads are in good shape, well above the national average, according to an annual pavement-condition report.
The city’s overall pavement score is 71 on a scale of 0-100, “which is a good, solid position to be in,” said consultant Zac Thomason at the Oct. 20 Sandy Springs City Council meeting. The national average is around 60 to 65, he said.
Thomason’s firm, IMS Infrastructure Management Services, scans the pavement of all streets with a laser-equipped van and grades conditions from the data.
The city’s backlog of streets needing paving is about 7.5 percent, which is “very healthy,” Thomason said, explaining that a city’s backlog should be under 12 percent. The city is a bit under another target: maintaining 50 percent of roads in “excellent condition.” But that’s close enough Thomason said.
Maintaining the current road system in current good shape would cost an estimated $4.2 million to $5 million per year, Thomason said, recommending the city make that investment.