Arlington’s never-ending job

You can never go wrong fixing streets in Arlington.

Despite much city investment in streets in recent years — voters in 2002 approved a quarter-cent sales tax devoted to streets — officials say streets are still residents’ No. 1 concern.

That’s why Arlington is devoting $260.9 million to street repair and replacement over the next five years. That compares to $242.9 million in the previous five years.

It’s a never-ending task.

David Wynn, assistant director of engineering and construction, notes that Arlington had an aggressive street-building program in the mid-1980s, “but now these streets are coming to the end of their useful lives.”

With an additional $20 million in street-work contracts expected to be signed in October, the city soon will have $80 million in active street projects. Officials say that’s the most in Arlington’s history.

Of the $260.9 million for streets over the next five years, $88.3 million will come from the quarter-cent sales tax and $172.6 million from the 2014 bond program.

There will always be more potholes. But elected officials and city staffers can always show concern by fixing them.