By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Some roads in Erie County are getting a facelift despite the county's fiscal crisis.
Resurfacing of Elmwood and Military Roads in Tonawanda began Friday as part of a nearly $7 million package recently approved by the County Legislature. The road projects, including others throughout the county, are on a fast track for completion by the fall. County Executive Joel Giambra says the county has to maintain its roads.
"It's the old cliche -- the hole in the roof gone unattended becomes a roof replacement," Giambra said. "If you don't do this now and stay on top of this, then you have total reconstruction, which is five times the cost of what we're spending here."
Giambra says the money comes from a dedicated road fund and would have to be spent anyway. The county has spent roughly a $500,000,000 on county infrastructure since Giambra came into office.