Winter Park Public Works Director Charles Ramdatt addressed efforts to repair and maintain the city’s brick streets during the Jan. 25 City Commission meeting. The report was in response to a request, made by Commissioner Sheila DeCiccio at the Jan. 11 meeting, for an update on road conditions based on resident complaints.
Ramdatt stated that, beginning next week, members of his department will start planning comprehensive brick assessments that will study road foundations, drainage and stormwater infrastructure, traffic volume, and the misalignment of bricks due to turning traffic and heavy vehicles.
“The primary focus will be on connector streets in residential and commercial areas, and on local residential streets,” he said, adding that the Public Works and Transportation Department will partner with the Water & Wastewater Utilities Department in the stormwater study.
The departments will also cooperate on an overlapping initiative to develop an infrastructure maintenance program, aimed at improving drainage along city streets.
The brick assessments will result in a prioritization of repairs that Ramdatt expects to be developed and shared with city leaders within three months. He also noted that repairs will be accomplished with the following strategy:
- Brick street spot repairs by Streets Division staff
- Storm sewer repairs by teams of street and water utility staff
- Large-scale repairs by external brick street contractors overseen by city staff
“We hope to procure a couple of brick street contracts within the coming months,” said Ramdatt, adding that his department will be working with the Budget & Management Division in the procurement process.
Ramdatt also quipped about the range of opinions he’s heard regarding the city’s brick streets.
“Some people really love them the way they are, some people really hate them,” he said. “There’s hardly anyone in the middle.”