Gladstone Moves Forward with $1.2M Street Maintenance Program for FY26
According to a June 4 memo from Public Works Director Timothy A. Nebergall, the city plans to “maintain” approximately 15 lane miles of roadway—5 lane miles getting a fresh coat of slurry or crack filler, and another 10 treated to the mill-and-overlay spa special, where the top two inches of pavement are politely removed and replaced. Curb work and ADA ramps may be thrown in for extra flair.
The FY26 program targets approximately 15 lane miles of maintenance, combining 5 lane miles of intermediate work such as microsurfacing and 10 lane miles of mill and overlay. The city will not pursue full-depth reconstruction this year, allowing available resources to stretch further across more roads.
“This program reflects a thoughtful and proactive approach to infrastructure,” Nebergall said. “By focusing on preventative and intermediate maintenance techniques, we’re extending the lifespan of our streets and avoiding more costly repairs down the line.”
Funding for the project comes from the Gladstone Special Road District, a key partnership that has enabled the city to keep up with its long-term street preservation strategy without imposing additional financial burdens on residents.
Gladstone’s Public Works Department uses a data-driven method to determine where resources are most needed, evaluating factors such as street condition, usage volume, and available funding. This approach allows the city to prioritize roads that will benefit most from attention and keep the city’s overall street network in good health.
In addition to the FY26 improvements, the city had already earmarked an additional $750,000 from FY24 budget savings to enhance street maintenance efforts. Staff also compiled a list of potential street segments to be added to the program should further funding become available.
City officials emphasized that the planning process is ongoing and responsive to community needs.
“Our aim is to maximize every dollar while improving the everyday driving experience for our residents,” Nebergall said.
Residents can expect to see crews at work in various parts of the city in the coming months, as Public Works puts this well-planned investment into motion.
City officials insist this program is “strategic” and “based on data,” which sounds a lot better than admitting there’s not enough money to fix the streets that are truly falling apart. But hey—at least we’re sealing cracks.
If this all feels familiar, it might be because last year the city already tossed an extra $750,000 at street maintenance from budget savings. Apparently, all that money still couldn’t buy us anything more robust than surface-level treatments.
In a moment of pure optimism, the memo hints that staff have compiled a list of potential bonus roads—dubbed “bid alternates”—just in case some mystery funds fall from the sky. Spoiler alert: they won’t.
So, while your car continues its daily suspension test on crumbling local roads, rest easy knowing the city is out there with its crack-sealing guns and resurfacing dreams. Full reconstructions are just too extravagant. This is Gladstone, after all—we specialize in just enough.
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