For Lewiston road crews this week, preparations are taking precedent over paving.

Public Works Director Dave Jones said crews will be paving portions of four streets this week – Adams Avenue and Lincoln, Bradley and Howard streets.

They’ll be concentrating on preparations for projects scheduled for the next two weeks.

“The next big phase of our paving plan is scheduled for the weeks of July 14-18,” Jones said. “So that means we’ll be doing the preparations now.”

That involves grinding some roads, fixing potholes and making sure driveways match, Jones said.

Beginning July 7, crews will be paving parts of four Lewiston streets. Those are two portions of Ferry Road – around Pine Woods Road and from Dyer Road to River Road – Harold Street from Farwell Street to Bushey Circle, Montello Street from East Avenue to Stanley Street, and Lafayette Street between Russell and Campus Avenue.

Crews are scheduled to repave eight other Lewiston streets beginning July 14. Those include portions of Webster, Eustis, Foch, Farwell, College, Spring, Oak and Bates streets.

Crews should be out doing preparations on all 12 roads this week, Jones said.

Work on the College Street storm sewer project could wrap up soon, he said. Crews are hoping to be able to pave between Sabattus and Union streets after July 14, he said. Crews will continue digging along Jefferson Street this week as part of the Gulley Brook storm sewer project.

Jones said crews should be finishing the off-road work along Plourde Parkway and River Road in the next few weeks. The city is relocating that intersection to make way for a Wal-Mart Distribution facility off Plourde Parkway.

“Eventually, we’ll be moving into the road there, but we have a few weeks left on the side,” he said.

James, Grant due for grinding

In Auburn, crews will be concentrating on pavement preparations on James and Grant streets Monday, according to Assistant Public Works Director Sid Hazelton. Those roads will be paved later this summer, he said. That work should be finished in one day, however.

“That should be the big disruption on Monday,” Hazelton said. “They’ll be grinding along there, so that’ll be something to avoid.”

The Court Street storm sewer project will also continue this week. Crews will be concentrating on putting in lines between Granite and Park streets. That project still has several weeks of work left.

Hazelton said work on Western Avenue is winding down. Crews have been repaving that road for the last several weeks.

City Engineer Steve Ranney said crews would be moving some of the equipment stored along Granite Street away for the holiday weekend. They will be back, however.

“We’re just doing that so they won’t be blocking anybody for the weekend,” Ranney said.

staylor@sunjournal.com