If you've driven around Arlington lately, no doubt you have noticed a lot of street construction.

But all of those street projects signify progress, residents' tax dollars at work and a commitment to consistent improvement and maintenance. And, it's evidence of the City Council's priority of improving regional mobility.

Some Public Works and Transportation activity going on throughout The American Dream City is related to new construction that Arlington voters previously approved.

Others are part of smaller repairs or ongoing, routine maintenance done to protect the investment in all of those miles of previously installed roadway.

Keith Brooks, the department's engineering operations manager, said several major projects currently are unfolding. They are part of a multi-million dollar citywide construction surge of public works and water utility upgrades never before seen in Arlington.

A few include:

• The $16 million Tri-Schools Street Improvement Project in west Arlington involves improvements to Ledbetter, Russell, Calendar and Curry roads as safety measures around three schools.

• The $5.6 million Stadium Drive project will widen the road between Division and Abram streets to six lanes and add an at-grade, quiet zone railroad crossing, new hike and bike trail, underground storm drainage, sidewalks, street lights, water and sanitary sewer pipes.

• Center Street from Highlander Boulevard to Bardin Road in South Arlington is being widened and a new six-lane bridge added over Interstate 20. The $10.5 million project will provide new access across the freeway while relieving traffic from Collins Street, Matlock Road and Cooper Street.

• Abram Street improvements currently include: $8.2 million in road and water improvements along with sidewalks, streetlights and landscaping from Stadium Drive to State Highway 360; $8.6 million in improvements from State Highway 360 to Great Southwest Parkway; the Collins Street to Stadium Drive portion is expected to be bid this fall.

• Center Street from Arkansas Lane to Nottingham: This $4.5 million section of roadway is being reconstructed using concrete pavement with underground drainage, sidewalks, and streetlights. The project also includes water and sanitary sewer improvements.

In addition to this ongoing construction, two significant projects with bid this fall and be under construction in early 2016. Abram Street from Collins Street to Stadium Drive will include underground drainage, sidewalks, water and sanitary sewer improvements, streetlights, and a new bridge over Johnson Creek that will significantly reduce the flooding of Abram Street. The project is estimated at $11.4 million. Great Southwest Parkway from Avenue E to Abram Street is a $7.5 million project that includes reconstruction of the roadway, water and sanitary sewer improvements, and underground drainage.

There are two residential street construction programs currently ongoing that total $6.4 million. Additionally, street reclamation projects, which are funded by the Street Maintenance Sales Tax approved by our citizens in 2014, total approximately $4.5 million. The reclamation process is used when the curb and gutter is generally in good condition and the asphalt portion of the street is excavated and replaced with new asphalt.

In total, the City will have $83.4 million in capital street construction in progress by early 2016. And the approval of the 2014 Bond Election will allow this pace of construction to continue for the next five years.

But ensuring safe, strong roads isn't just about building new ones. The City also maintains an ongoing road maintenance program that regularly updates and evaluates street conditions.

Once a year, a pavement evaluation device traverses roughly one third of Arlington's roads, using lasers and photography to record digital images of pavement surfaces and degrees of roughness and distress. City officials then assign a score to sections of roadway and determine the degree of repairs needed.

"This information will assist staff for years to come to define a sound maintenance strategy by identifying deficiencies, prioritizing roadway projects, and monitoring pavement performance," said Mindy Carmichael, assistant director of public works and transportation.

A resident-approved, quarter-cent Street Maintenance Sales Tax provides money to help pay to repair and to maintain 3000 lane-miles of public streets.

Public Works and Transportation officials said they consistently work to determine what roads need attention and what type of repair technique to use on each to prevent deterioration and costly rebuilds. The City's policy is to reconstruct the streets in the worst condition first in order to achieve a more balance street network over time.

Potholes are filled using two designated repair trucks, crack seal programs are used on streets to seal the surface and prevent moisture infiltration and deterioration. Sunken or rough pavement is leveled or evened out and asphalt milling and reclamation treatments build new road bases and street surfaces.

The goal is to make timely, cost-effective repairs when needed and consistently examine even relatively new roads and use preservation techniques to extend their lives.

"Preventive maintenance is a never-ending process," Operations Manager Bill Bateman said. "It's a continuous cycle."