City of Lawton begins new mill and overlay program, starting with East Gore

Traffic in east Lawton is slowing to a crawl, but for a good reason.

Crews with T&G Construction have begun the first of a list of mill and overlay projects, grinding up the surface of four travel lanes of East Gore Boulevard between Flower Mound Road and Lawrie Tatum Road. The goal is the same one former city contractor Ellsworth Construction used on 10 other streets: grind up the existing asphalt surface, then apply a new layer of asphalt to create a surface that is smoother for travel while extending the road’s life by at least five years.

Ward 4 Councilman George Gill and Ward 1 Councilwoman Mary Ann Hankins acknowledged the work Tuesday, with Gill noting the East Gore project is the first of 15 streets that T&G Construction will improve through the mill and overlay process. Hankins touched on residential concerns that a majority of the streets on this list seem to be concentrated in southwest Lawton.

“We haven’t forgotten northwest Lawton,” she said, adding that while listed roads need improvements, so do other streets in other areas, including Ward 1. “It will happen and you’ll see those listed soon.”

Gill said the streets selected for the mill and overlay program are all over Lawton, but contractors are starting with the streets with high traffic flow before moving to others. He said so many streets are being added to the mill and overlay program that city officials are going to change the name from “Ten Wins” for citizens to “50 Wins,” a reference to the fact that street work is benefitting residents.

“We’re getting a lot of new streets in Lawton,” Gill said, adding while T&G Construction is working on these streets, 15 more will be designated for mill and overlay improvements in another 45 days. “They’re all over town.”