Newton Plans Over One Mile of Street Improvements Before October

The city's 2026 HMA Program will resurface 19 blocks with hot mix asphalt overlays.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:57pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of a bright orange road construction cone, capturing the essence of infrastructure improvements in a stylized, pop art format.Newton's investment in street resurfacing projects aims to improve road conditions and accessibility for the local community.Newton Today

The city of Newton, Iowa has approved a $459,551 contract with Manatt's Incorporated to resurface approximately 1.16 miles of streets across 19 city blocks with hot mix asphalt overlays. The project, which is expected to be completed by September 30th, will also include upgrades to curb ramps and pedestrian access routes to meet ADA requirements.

Why it matters

Street improvements have become a priority for Newton in recent years, as the city works to address aging infrastructure and improve ride quality for residents. The hot mix asphalt overlay program is intended to extend the life of existing structurally sound streets by addressing surface distress like cracking and degradation.

The details

Newton's City Council unanimously approved the 2026 HMA Program and the contract with Manatt's Incorporated, whose bid of $459,551 came in well below the engineer's construction cost estimate of $706,920. In addition to the asphalt overlays, the project will also construct or upgrade curb ramps and pedestrian access routes along the affected streets to meet current ADA requirements.

  • The project is expected to be completed by September 30, 2026.
  • The city's 2026 HMA Program was approved by the City Council this week.

The players

Newton Mayor Randy Ervin

Ervin says street improvements have become a city priority in recent years, with this being the third year in a row the city has made it a priority and found funding to complete major street projects.

Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler

Muckler says the hot mix asphalt overlay program is intended to improve ride quality and extend the life of streets by preserving existing structurally sound pavements.

Manatt's Incorporated

The construction company submitted the low bid of $459,551 to complete the 1.16 mile street resurfacing project.

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What they’re saying

“I know when I came on the city council seven years ago, that was the thing you constantly heard. We never worked on the streets. We never improved the streets. Now this will be the third year in a row that we have made that a priority, and found the funding to make sure that we are doing good street projects throughout the city.”

— Newton Mayor Randy Ervin

“The hot mix asphalt program is intended to improve ride quality, and extend the life of streets by preservation of existing pavements that are structurally sound, but exhibiting surface distress such as cracking, raveling, and ride degradation.”

— Newton City Administrator Matt Muckler

What’s next

The street resurfacing project is scheduled to be completed by September 30, 2026.

The takeaway

Newton's focus on improving its aging street infrastructure through targeted resurfacing projects demonstrates the city's commitment to maintaining quality roads and enhancing the overall transportation experience for residents. By leveraging cost-effective hot mix asphalt overlays, the city can extend the lifespan of existing streets while also upgrading pedestrian access to meet ADA standards.