Gravel roads in Pueblo possible as budget woes resurface

As City Council grapples with a $3.5 million deficit, the city’s streets superintendent warns some roads may have to be turned into gravel.

“We’re kind of in the deterioration curve right now in a big way,” said Steve Eubanks. “And we’ve got a number of streets that if they don’t get attention soon, it may be better off just to turn them back to gravel.”

This year the city received nearly $700,000 from the Highway Users Tax Fund, which is the city’s only source of funding for street repairs.

Several Pueblo residents told KRDO NewsChannel 13 they’re concerned about the condition of the city’s streets.

“Sidewalks and pavement on the streets- they have a lot of potholes,” Paul Andrada said.

“The roads, side roads, everywhere in the city we have potholes,” Patricia Lopez said.

Eubanks said only one percent of the roads in Pueblo get resurfaced every year. This year most of the work is being done on Eagleridge Drive, where the westbound lanes will be resurfaced. Eubanks estimates it will cost about $350,000.

Eubanks points to intersections like Oakshire Lane and Calderwood Place, on the city’s east side, which is littered with cracks on the road. “Right now if things don’t change, I don’t know that we’ll be able to be in here in the next three to five years, even.”

Eubanks plans to speak before City Council in the coming weeks about the struggles to maintain the roads.