The poor economy is helping the City of Norman fund additional road resurfacing projects under a 2005 street maintenance bond program the city is nearly finished with, Public Works Director Shawn O'Leary announced Tuesday during a city council study session at City Hall.

The 2005 bond program allowed the city about $11 million to spend on asphalt resurfacing projects -- 82 miles of which will be completed this time next year -- but they've only used $9.9 million. According to city documents, there's a remaining balance of $1,026,047.

The additional projects would resurface about 9.5 miles of city roads, including sections of Cockrel Avenue, Gray Street, Acres Street, Frank Street, Oliver Street, Rich Street, Johnson Street, Findley Avenue, Stewart Avenue, Hughbert Street, Apache Street, Reed Avenue, Comanche Street and Symmes Street.

Some of the streets will have mutliple sections of road resurfaced, city documents show.

O'Leary said the city had six bids for the new projects -- an unusually high number attributed to the depressed economy. He said the low bidder came in at about $735,000, leaving the city with $300,000 left over from the 2005 bond money.

The additional projects will be grouped together, O'Leary said, because the road conditions are similar in those areas and need the same type of work. He said construction will run in stages to help reduce inconvenience for local residents.

The bonus resurfacing could get under way as soon as March 2010, O'Leary said.

Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com