$100M bond will pay for deferred paving. These Fresno roads could be repaired first
The city of Fresno has a deferred street maintenance bill of $1.2 billion and growing, but under a new plan the city has taken on a $100 million bond to start paving this year.
The City Council agreed to Mayor Jerry Dyer’s “Pave More, Pay Later” initiative in June as the $1.2 billion backlog had doubled from just three years earlier.
The bond dollars are split evenly among the districts, and 75% is aimed at the roadways. The other 25% can be used on roadway adjacent projects, like sidewalks, medians and lighting.
Projects can be eligible if they have at least a 30-year lifespan. The money is expected to be spent on paving in the next two years, but the first payment on the bond is not due until 2029.
There are 1,767 miles of roads within Fresno city limits.
Keeping up on maintenance has been and issue for some time in Fresno. One street in District 4, for example, was repaved in 2023 for the first time in its 57 years of existence.
Here’s a look at the earliest projects planned in each City Council district.
District 1
Councilmember Annalisa Perea relayed her top locations for paving in the west central district.
- $2 million: Shields Avenue from Fruit to Palm avenues.
- $3.4 million: Shaw Avenue from Blythe to Valentine avenues, not including Marks Avenue.
District 2
Councilmember Mike Karbassi said he has not finalized a list for his northwest Fresno district, noting the spending is limited.
He said he’s focused on finding funding to “completely restore the roadway” on West Shaw Avenue from Palm to Polk avenues.
“It’s in terrible shape and one of two main east-to-west thoroughfares in the northern half of our city,” he said in a text message.
District 3
Councilmember Miguel Arias said his district in downtown, Tower District and southwest Fresno will see paving and median work.
- $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 Street to East Avenue; Fulton Street from Monterey Street to Hamilton Avenue; Cherry Avenue from Fulton Street to Van Ness Avenue.
- $819,000: Median and landscaping on Olive Avenue from Palm to Roosevelt avenues.
District 4
Councilmember Tyler Maxwell offered his first targets for paving in east central Fresno.
- $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 identified six roads in the southeast part of town with the greatest need for paving in the interest of public safety.
- $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’s northwest district paving and stoplight changes were aimed first at safety, he said.
- $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 said for his central Fresno district, he’d identified four of the first projects for roadways that need paving 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.
This story was originally published July 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM.
