Benicia has more than 95 centerline miles of streets and roads with a value of $111.5 million, but they’re in declining condition, Benicia City Council will hear in a staff report Tuesday.

Potholes begin with damage to the surface pavement. If they aren’t repaired soon, the constant use of a roadway causes a depression in the pavement, the sub base below and farther down to the soil, according to the report.

Keeping surfaces sealed with crack sealing, which keeps water out of the road base, can cost up to $1.90 a linear foot. Putting slurry seal on the surface gives a road a more uniform color, and can cost $2.35 a square yard.

Should repairs be delayed until pavement overlay is needed, that can cost up to $47.50 a square yard, and road reconstruction can cost $95 a square yard.

Benicia’s road quality is declining, the report said, dropping in the past 10 years from a 70-percent rating to 59 percent — and from fourth place in Solano County to sixth in the county and its seven cities.

By comparison, Vallejo’s streets have a 49-percent rating, and Rio Vista’s, a 58.

The highest road rating goes to Dixon, with 77; Solano County’s rating is 75; Fairfield, 71; Vacaville, 68; and Suisun City, 62.

The county average is 64.9.

Benicia has spent an average of $700,000 annually on road repairs, and is earmarking money in the current fiscal year from the General Fund for crack sealing; Measure C sales tax money to fix 250 potholes and repair Southampton Road; and Regional Measure 2 (bridge toll) money for Park Road repairs.

Next year, the city will spend more General Fund money on crack sealing, and use gasoline tax funds to slurry seal 20 miles of streets. More Measure C sales tax money will be used on Industrial Way repairs.

The Council meeting will start at 7 Tuesday night in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 250 East L St. Prior to that, the Council will meet in a closed session to discuss legal matters.

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