Times Observer file photo by Brian Ferry The city’s paving project is set to get underway in earnest today with work on W. Fifth Ave. from Hickory St. to Laurel St. Work will then shift to Madison Ave. before proceeding in the coming days to roughly 15 city blocks set to be re-paved this summer.

If the weather cooperates, the city of Warren’s 2022 paving will begin in earnest today.

Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz said the contractor on the nearly half a million-dollar project is expected to start the work on West Fifth Avenue from Hickory to Laurel.

He explained that there are two sets of streets in this project — the city-owned streets that will be re-paved this year as well as a couple Local Federal Aid Routes — that section of West Fifth Avenue as well as two blocks of Madison Avenue by Lacy Park.

Those routes will go first with the city’s work to follow.

The section of Fifth Avenue, currently asphalt, will be re-paved while, Holtz said, the two-block section of Madison is concrete. The concrete will be removed and the street turned into asphalt.

Maintenance on a concrete street is significantly more expensive than asphalt.

Holtz speculated that it will take a couple days to complete the Local Federal Aid Routes.

Work will then shift to 16 city blocks that council approved the funds to repave earlier this year.

The contract award for that work totals nearly $486,000.

Approximately $220,000 of the total comes from state-awarded liquid fuels allocations with the remainder coming from the city’s general fund.

Here’s a look at what city streets will be paved later this year: Allegheny Ave. from Ludlow St. to Lacy St.; Carver St. from Hinkle St. to Cornplanter St.; Center St. from Buchanan St. to Prospect St.; Central Ave. from Lincoln Ave. to the end; Grant St. from Madison Ave. to Lincoln Ave.; Lee St. from Tuscarora Ave. to Cayuga Ave.; Liberty St. from Pennsylvania Ave. to Second Ave.; Rollins St. from Pa. Ave. to the end; Sill St. from Ludlow St. to Wetmore St.; South St. from Madison Ave. to Cornplanter St.; Spring St. from Stone Hill Rd. to Public Way; Wayne St. from Main Ave. to Seneca Ave.; Willoughby Ave. from Homestead Pl. and Edgewood Pl.

Optional work approved by council will see Fourth Ave. from Beech St. to Chestnut St., Glade Ave. from Nesmith Pl. to Hill St. and Terrace St. from Orchard St. to Lookout St. paved this year, as well.