The City of Frankfort Street Department is addressing growing concerns about road conditions while outlining its ongoing efforts to improve local streets and maintain transparency with residents.
In a recent public update, Street Department Superintendent Brian Killman acknowledged complaints about potholes and roadway quality, emphasizing that while many streets are in need of repair, the city must prioritize projects based on available funding and long-term planning.
Frankfort maintains approximately 76 miles of roadway and relies heavily on the state’s Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program to fund improvements. The city typically receives about $450,000 annually through the program, which, when matched, allows for up to $900,000 in roadway work each year.
In 2025, the city milled and paved 3.3 miles of roadway at a cost of $723,745.70. For 2026, changes to CCMG requirements mean additional work must be completed alongside paving projects, including bringing sidewalks into ADA compliance. This year’s plan includes paving 2.6 miles of roadway and upgrading 31 curb ramps, totaling $720,707.50. Over the two-year period, the city will have improved nearly six miles of roadway with an investment of more than $1.4 million.
Despite these efforts, officials say fully repairing every street in Frankfort would cost an estimated $20 million—far beyond current financial capabilities. As a result, the department uses a structured system known as PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) to assess road conditions and determine priorities. Roads are rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with lower scores indicating more severe deterioration. Decisions on repairs are based on these ratings, along with traffic levels and past maintenance history.
In the meantime, crews are focusing heavily on pothole patching. While patching is only a temporary solution, it helps keep roads safe and slows further deterioration until full reconstruction or resurfacing can be completed. Officials note that fluctuating weather conditions—especially cycles of rain and freezing temperatures—contribute significantly to the rapid formation of potholes.
The department also cautioned that CCMG funding is not guaranteed each year, as some communities were not awarded grants in the latest round. Despite this uncertainty, the city plans to continue applying annually and preparing future paving schedules.
In addition to long-term planning, the Street Department announced a temporary road closure on North Williams Street between Washington Avenue and Vermont Street. The closure, expected to last about one week, will allow crews to remove inactive railroad tracks and replace the section with new asphalt, improving both safety and ride quality.