SALISBURY, Md.- Some Salisbury neighbors are voicing their concerns over road conditions.
Schumacher Manor neighbors say their roads have never been safe since the neighborhood was built 30 years ago.
"The city never came in at the end of construction in the neighborhood and put in a finished road. So we've been running on borrowed time for a number of years," said Schumaker Manor neighbor Richard Strautz. "It's just not safe for someone in a wheelchair, like myself, someone riding a bike, someone using roller blades."
Wicomico County Engineer Heather Lankford tells WBOC the pavement is 1 inch thick, where road pavement should be at least 4 inches thick. Roads should have a layer of stone, whereas in Schumaker Manor, there is clay under 1 inch of pavement. This causes what is called ‘alligatoring’, where the pavement cracks and blisters. Lankford also says that rainfall that seeps into the clay causes the pavement to expand and contract, degrading the roads even further.
Neighbors also noted street gutters above the pavement, hindering drainage from rainfall causing further flooding.
Neighbor Paula Donalds says with no sidewalks, neighbors and visitors rely on their roads.
"We are patient but we want it fixed the right way. To ensure the safety of everyone that comes in here, not just the residents," said Donalds.
Neighbor Vernon Rivers says after 30 years of waiting for a solution, he is asking the city to act now.
"These are bad roads, bad drainage, everything. It's just gonna get worse," said Rivers.
Neighbors spoke out during Monday night’s Salisbury council meeting. Mayor Randy Taylor said he is aware of the issue and wants to get the roads ‘straightened out’. County Engineer Lankford says apart from fixing the curbs and street drainage, Lankford estimates fixing the roads could cost over a million dollars.