Residents sound off on South Ninth

    Residents on South Ninth Avenue could not enter their driveways for a month during the recent road construction. However, many of those residents said it was a small price to pay for a smooth road.

    Steve Akgul said he wasn?t inconvenienced much by the construction. He said he just parked his car behind his house. He said he notices a big difference between the new and old surfaces.

    ?The new road is smooth,? he said. ?The old road was bad. It was very bumpy.?

    Akgul remarked that, although the project isn?t completely finished, he doesn?t mind.

    ?On my side, it?s all right,? he said. ?I care about my front door.?

    Ramon Ponce also lives on the newly paved portion of South Ninth Avenue and said the pavement is acceptable. However, he noticed that the new pavement is lower than before, and that this affects how easily he gets in and out of his driveway. When he backs out of his driveway, his car bounces up and down upon entering the street.  

    City Engineer Rob McDonald confirmed Tuesday that the new pavement is a few inches lower than the former pavement. He said that anyone who has a concern should contact the city at 653-6584. He said the city is looking at ways of creating a more acceptable angle on those driveways that were adversely affected by the project. 

    Don and Wanda Cunningham remarked that they are pleased with the pavement. During construction, the Cunninghams parked east of their house at an apartment complex.

     ?We?re fortunate because we know the owners of the complex,? said Wanda.

    Don remarked, ?We weren?t the only ones who did it. It was filled.?

    He said there were roads in town that were in greater need of repair than South Ninth, but because of its frequent use, it was chosen over the other streets.

    Dick Ulin said he hasn?t noticed any problems when he?s driven on the new pavement. He said the construction didn?t bother him very much. He lives on the southeast corner of the intersection with Madison Street. He said that he simply parked his car on Madison Street when South Ninth was torn up.

      Ellen Crossett said she ?loves? the new street. In the two months they were here, she got to know the construction workers from Jasper Construction very well.

?The Thursday before Halloween, I asked them if they?d be working on Friday,? she said. ?I told them I may have a treat for them. The first thing they asked me when I got out the door the next day was ?Do you have our treats yet??

Crossett made cinnamon rolls for the workers that day. She said that since it was a cold morning, she took them coffee as well.

For the full story, see our Dec. 7 print edition.