The Knife River paving crew was at work Tuesday afternoon on Elm Street between 5th and 6th avenues.
If you’ve tried to drive near Albany General Hospital lately, you already know about this: The traffic pattern is messed up because Elm Street is being repaved.
Knife River, of Tangent, has a $1.2 million city contract to upgrade Elm from Fifth Avenue to 16th Avenue, a distance of 3,200 feet.
The company already replaced most of the corner curb ramps. Now it has begun grinding down the old pavement and replacing it with a 2-inch layer of new asphalt. The job is supposed to be complete by July 31.
This is one of the paving jobs the city has done on major streets even though the pavement seems in pretty good shape. The idea is to keep up the condition of the busiest streets and avoid the much higher costs of total reconstruction later on.
Meanwhile, the city council still faces the issue of how to pay for fixing and maintaining residential streets that have been falling into disrepair for decades.
The council has already informally agreed to postpone any election on a local gas tax. Originally councilors had contemplated calling that election this coming November.
The council may discuss the tax idea when it meets May 13. It may also take up the issue of a street maintenance fee to be added on the monthly city utility bills.
In the meantime, be aware of temporary street closures on and around Elm. (hh)
Rolling the new layer of asphalt on Elm Street Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
That’s all we need….Elm Street blocked at some point every day until July 31. Oh, well. So be it. Thanks for the info.
Are they going to pave 6th Ave. in front of the hospital? That street is an embarrassment.
Yes, 6th Avenue has new asphalt from Elm to the crosswalk in front of the hospital’s main entrance.
I am surprised they do not pave our street here on 9th Ave as the ambulances and other emergency vehicles use it as a main road to the hospital.