By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg Department of Public Works is struggling to keep up with road repairs due to a high workload and lack of manpower.

“It was our hope to start to address road cuts and potholes with hot mix, but workload and available manpower is prohibiting this work,” DPW Director Scott Thornhill said in an update to city council recently. “We have done our best to address known issues, but this work is most likely going to be postponed until all CHIPs work is completed. This is the second highest complaint we receive, but we see no relief before Labor Day.”

Meanwhile staff is working on prepping streets, resetting drops and catch basins where necessary.

Thornhill says paving of phase one is underway.

Streets in phase one include Hamilton, Pickering and near the post office.

Thorhill said he is also evaluating the accuracy and the need for signage for the city’s truck route system.

“We will bring forth a resolution as necessary,” he said in the update to council.

According to Thornhill the trucks and tractor-trailer route system allows combinations in excess of 10,000 pounds to travel on fifteen streets. He says ensuring the proper routes are used is critical to maintaining the integrity of streets.