Paving planned

Street paving will begin next week.

The City of Portland announced in a press release Wednesday that paving for sections of 15 streets will start Monday and continue through May 2, weather permitting.

The paving is partially funded through a pair of Indiana Department of Transportation Community Crossings grants.

Portland was awarded a $741,502.50 Community Crossings Grant in November for the bulk of the streets involved in the upcoming paving. It received an additional $76,575 for Charles Street in March. (Charles Street was part of the original application, but was removed to correct an error in documentation.)

The complete list of streets set for paving beginning next week is as follows:

•First Street — Between Wayne and Munson streets

•Franklin Street — From Lafayette Street north to its dead end at Portland Fire Department

•Garfield Street — Between First and Water streets

•Hayes Street — From Water Street south to the alley

•Jaqua Avenue — From Union Street north to its dead end

•Maple Street — Between Silvers Lane and Charles Street

•Munson Street — Between First and Water streets

•North Street — Between Middle and Glen streets

•Seventh Street — From Meridian Street to the western city limits

•Shank Street — Between Fifth and Seventh streets

•Ship Street — Between Walnut and Votaw streets

•Silvers Lane — Between Maple Street and Olsen Lane

•Tyson Road — From Charles Street to the western city limits

•Wayside Place — Between Charles and North streets

•Western Avenue — Between Seventh and Water streets

•Williams Street — Between Water and Walnut streets

Residents are asked not to park in those areas between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the  project in order to all Brooks Construction to complete the work.

Additional work in Portland is planned for later this year.

Jay County Commissioners on Monday awarded a $1.025 million contract with Brumbaugh Construction of Arcanum, Ohio, for rehabilitating and upgrading the Seventh Street bridge over the Salamonie River. The county was awarded a $1.03 million Community Crossings grant in March for the project. It includes adding a sidewalk on the north side of the bridge.

Other communities will have paving work related to Community Crossings grants this year as well.

In November, Redkey was awarded $166,134.75 for paving sections of George, Elm, Sherman, Butler, Cleveland, Wayne and Ash streets.

In March, Dunkirk received a $143,126.25 grant for paving Pleasant Street on the west side of the city, Fourth Street, D Street and Lincoln Avenue between Main and Angle streets.

All of the Community Crossings grants require a 25% local match.