Fresno Roads Set for Repairs with $100M Bond: Which Streets Will Be Fixed First?

Fresno is taking a significant step toward addressing its massive street maintenance backlog, which has grown to an estimated $1.2 billion. In response, the City Council approved Mayor Jerry Dyer’s “Pave More, Pay Later” initiative in June 2024. The plan involves issuing a $100 million bond to begin road improvement projects this year, marking the first major financial commitment to tackling decades of deferred maintenance.

The city currently oversees 1,767 miles of roadway, many of which have gone years—sometimes even decades—without repaving or substantial repair. One example from District 4 highlights the extent of neglect: a street that had not seen new pavement in its 57-year history was finally resurfaced in 2023.

Under the new bond program, funds are distributed evenly across all seven City Council districts. Of that allocation, 75% will be used for road paving, while the remaining 25% can be applied to adjacent infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks, medians, and lighting. To qualify for funding, projects must meet a key requirement—they must be expected to last at least 30 years.

While the city plans to spend the bond money over the next two years, repayment won’t begin until 2029, giving Fresno some breathing room to allocate other resources in the short term.

District-by-District Breakdown of Initial Projects

District 1 (Councilmember Annalisa Perea)

This west central district will see work on two key corridors: - $2 million: Shields Avenue from Fruit to Palm avenues. - $3.4 million: Shaw Avenue from Blythe to Valentine avenues, excluding Marks Avenue.

These roads serve as vital connectors for residential and commercial areas within the district.

District 2 (Councilmember Mike Karbassi)

In northwest Fresno, the councilmember is still finalizing the list of priority streets but emphasized the need to fully restore West Shaw Avenue from Palm to Polk avenues. He described it as one of the area's primary east-west routes and noted its deteriorated condition.

District 3 (Councilmember Miguel Arias)

This downtown and southwest Fresno district includes several major paving initiatives: - $8.9 million: McKinley and Palm avenues to Olive and Fruit avenues. - $1.27 million: San Pablo and Belmont avenues to Divisadero and Calaveras streets. - $3.37 million: Los Angeles Street from Broadway to East Avenue; Fulton Street from Monterey to Hamilton avenues; Cherry Avenue from Fulton to Van Ness avenues. - $819,000: Median and landscaping upgrades on Olive Avenue from Palm to Roosevelt avenues.

District 4 (Councilmember Tyler Maxwell)

East central Fresno will focus on several high-traffic streets: - $3 million: McKinley Avenue from Peach to Clovis avenues. - $1.5 million: Dakota Avenue from Cedar to Maple avenues. - $2.14 million: Santa Ana Avenue and First Street to Gettysburg Avenue and Augusta Street. - $4 million: Ashlan Avenue near Highway 168 to Winery Avenue. - $1.44 million: Fresno Street from Gettysburg to Ashlan avenues.

District 5 (Councilmember Brandon Vang)

In southeast Fresno, the emphasis is on public safety with six roadways identified for immediate attention: - $2.45 million: Cesar Chavez Boulevard from Orange to Cedar avenues. - $2.82 million: Cedar Avenue from Cesar Chavez Boulevard to California Avenue. - $1.2 million: Winery Avenue from Cesar Chavez Boulevard to Butler Avenue. - $1.37 million: Sixth Street from Tulare Avenue to Cesar Chavez Boulevard. - $1 million: Fowler Avenue from Belmont to Tulare avenues. - $5.9 million: Church Avenue from Cedar to Peach avenues.

District 6 (Councilmember Nick Richardson)

Safety-focused upgrades include both paving and stoplight modifications: - $1.59 million: Cedar Avenue from Herndon to Sierra avenues. - $1.44 million: Cedar Avenue from Sierra to Bullard avenues. - $2.27 million: Nees Avenue from Cedar to Maple avenues. - $1.7 million: First Street from Sierra to Bullard avenues. - $4.76 million: Perrin Avenue from Champlain Drive to Sommerville Drive.

District 7 (Councilmember Nelson Esparza)

Central Fresno will see four major roadway upgrades: - $3 million: McKinley Avenue from Peach to Clovis avenues. - $7.4 million: Belmont Avenue and Sixth Street to Tulare and First streets. - $1.9 million: McKenzie and Winery avenues to Tulare and Chestnut avenues. - $3.7 million: Floradora and Millbrook avenues to Olive Avenue and First Street.

With these projects now underway, the city hopes to make meaningful progress in improving transportation infrastructure, enhancing safety, and increasing the overall quality of life for residents across all neighborhoods.