Some traffic tie-ups in milling along Front Street Monday, last of four in 2026 mill and pave program

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

Olean motorists experienced traffic tie-ups on Front Street Monday as a milling and paving project between Prospect and East Spring streets.

The Olean Public Works Department had earlier advised motorists to avoid the Front Street area if possible.

Lakeshore Paving, Jamestown, used a milling machine that slowly removed an entire lane of pavement nearly 6 inches deep, down to the brick base. 

The millings flowed along a conveyor belt, which emptied into waiting dump trucks. The trucks dumped their loads in the Front Street yard waste lot.

As the milling machine moved along the street, one-way traffic flowed alongside the equipment trucks. The west side of the street was first to be milled. 

A road crew followed to build blacktop ramps for people to access their driveways that were now 4-6 inches higher than the brick surface.

Front Street is the fourth and last city street to be milled by Lakeshore Paving this year. Milling began in early September. 

Other streets in the city’s mill and pave program are: 

• Seneca Avenue from Front Street to King Street.

• North Fourth Street from West State Street to Laurens Street and Wayne Street to East Forrest Avenue.

• East Connell Street from North Union Street to River Street.