City Council discusses poorly-rated roadways and project updates

Burleson’s roadways score 69 out of 100 with 14% of roadways considered failed

Correction: This article has been edited to accurately report a quote from Burleson City Council member Larry Scott.

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Northwest Summercrest Boulevard, which scored a failing grade on geo-data specialist Furgo’s assessment of Burleson’s roadways. From assistant to the city manager Janalea Hembree’s Pavement Management Program presentation at the Burleson City Council meeting Monday at City Hall.

BURLESON – The Burleson City Council discussed the city’s poorly-rated roadways and the projects the city’s updated Capital Improvement Program funds Monday at City Hall.

Burleson’s roadways scored a 69 on geology-data specialist Furgo’s 0-to-100 scale, according to assistant to the city manager Janalea Hembree’s Pavement Management Program presentation at the meeting.

14% of Burleson’s roadways are considered failed with 13% approaching failure, according to the presentation. 73% are in good or better condition.

Burleson’s concrete roads were assessed as an 83 while asphalt roads were at a 51, according to the presentation. 

The council will vote on what action to take in response to the Pavement Management Program results at a future meeting.

City staff’s recommendation to the council was to go with a scenario that’d increase the city’s operations and maintenance budget and result in Burleson’s roadways dropping to an overall 61.2 rating within 10 years to address failing roadways now while Burleson attempts to solidify further funding to see that rating increase in the future, Hembree said. 

“We keep getting complaints and even though we’re spending more money, we’re not going to be getting a better roadway until we vote and approve further funds,” Mayor Pro Tem Dan McClendon said at the meeting.

“We’re fighting roads that are failing while trying to fix roads that have already failed,” Council member Larry Scott said. “By the time we get those fixed, we’re gonna have that many more failed, if not more. We can’t afford to go up at this point—it’s too late for that. Trying to stay neutral would be a good goal.”

McClendon said he and deputy city manager Eric Oscarson “had a brief talk about why we can’t [increase the score] and why we’re stuck at the level we’re at.”

Burleson contracted Furgo in 2023 to assess its roadways. Furgo traveled approximately 567 lane miles of roadway within Burleson and collected detailed pictures and data about each roadway to assess their condition. 

The Pavement Management Program also allows the city to create a more detailed pavement life-cycle plan to extend the life of roads and allow them to be rated good or higher for a longer period, while decreasing the overall cost that would be spent on the roadway within its lifetime, according to Hembree’s presentation. 

With Burleson officially approving the fiscal-year 2024-2025 budget September 10, the city updated its Capital Improvement Program and the projects it will fund.