(Photo by Gwen Sour) An uneven section of brick street along Putnam Street rises in a wave-like pattern in Marietta.

The city of Marietta plans to begin long-anticipated repairs to sections of its streets this spring and into the summer, according to Mayor Josh Schlicher.

Putnam Street — one of the city’s most heavily traveled brick corridors — has been “on the radar for many, many years,” Schlicher said, but full reconstruction remains cost-prohibitive.

Schlicher estimated a complete rebuild from Fifth Street to Front Street would cost approximately $4 million to $5 million. Instead, the city has set aside funding this year to complete targeted “spot repairs” along that expanse of roads.

“We finally got enough in the budget that we can do spot repair,” Schlicher said. “We’re going to do spot repair from the intersection of Putnam and Fifth all the way down to Front.”

The work will focus on removing bricks in problem areas, correcting the base underneath, rebuilding the base and then resetting the original bricks.

(Photo by Art Smith) A section of damaged roadway on Maple Street Extension is cordoned off with traffic cones in Marietta.

Schlicher said the city plans to reuse the existing brick rather than replace it in order to preserve the historic character of the street.

Putnam Street repairs will be contracted out due to the scope of the work, with bidding expected this spring. Schlicher said once a contractor is selected, the city will finalize a construction schedule. The city anticipates most of the work on Putnam Street will be completed by the end of summer, with some additional work potentially extending into the fall.

In addition to Putnam Street, city crews will handle spot repairs in-house on other brick streets, including Fifth Street, Sixth Street and several smaller sections around the city that do not require full-scale reconstruction. Schlicher said there are also problem areas along Butler Street near the Marietta College campus that will need attention, though a schedule for that work has not yet been set.

Residents have also raised concerns about recent weather-related damage and street conditions elsewhere in the city. Schlicher said a slip along Maple Street Extension near Harmar Hill is already under contract for repair and should be addressed within the next few months. The work will involve piling and other corrective measures to stabilize the hillside and roadway. Once completed, the road is expected to reopen without restrictions, though future limitations could be possible depending on conditions.

(Photo by Gwen Sour) A tire on a car warps as it traverses the bumpy bricks of Putnam Street in Marietta, Tuesday afternoon.