How many types of surfaces have most street departments worked with? Asphalt, brick, chipseal, cobblestone, dirt, gravel and macadam?

Before the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most streets were made of dirt and gravel. Later, in order to make the roads in cities nicer, they began to be constructed of bricks. Now, some towns are returning to brick surfaces.

There are good reasons to do so. Emily Agans, media manager for the city of Denison, Texas, and Christine Wallentine, assistant to the city manager, excitedly shared their experience with this kind of project.

The contractors agreed to save as many of the original bricks as possible for the new roadways, Agans said. Asked if this was because of history, aesthetics or economy, she replied, “All of the above. However, history stands out for us: Denison has the only brick streets in Grayson County and has one of the largest collections of brick streets in Texas. Many of them are over 100 years old, and they serve as important visual links to our deep, historic past.”

Denison is in the middle of a yearslong streetscape project on Main Street and has completed over three blocks. While these blocks are not yet historic, the city hopes they will become historic in the future; so, refurbishing the brick streets was included in the project. The Brick Preservation Plan takes into account repairs, preservation and maintenance for the bricks as well.

The plan is clearly detailed and would be useful as a template for any other city considering a similar project.

“We started recognizing the need for a policy in 2021,” Wallentine said. “A brick streets preservation committee was set up and a Preservation Policy was put together and adopted by our city council in May of 2023.”

“Brick paving began as an experiment in Charleston, W.Va., in 1870, and quickly gained notoriety,” she explained. “Other cities began following suit as brick paving offered a durable, smooth surface that could be easily manufactured and required low maintenance. Brick pavers later became the standard as the process became more refined, because they were larger than building bricks, typically weighing between 8-10 pounds. And because they were fired at a higher temperature, it made them more water and corrosion-resistant.

“As bricks became increasingly popular, they were hailed as a municipal necessity and ‘evidence of progress in civilization.’ When the bricks began to show signs of wear, they were simply turned over to create a new smooth surface.”

But by the 1920s and 1930s, brick paving had fallen out of favor, and concrete became the accepted standard for city-funded street paving.

Agans and Wallentine agreed that brick streets are expensive to maintain, repair and preserve. “They are difficult to maintain because of the individuality of each brick,” explained Agans.

Included in Denison’s Brick Streets Preservation Plan are five categories – a range of restoration recommendations that identifies those most appropriate for historic preservation and resurfacing. For example, Category 1 designates Denison’s Downtown Historic District, and the streets there are so critical to the designation that they should be restored to their original appearance, according to Agans and Wallentine. Rather than disturbing the bricks, they should be replaced and carefully maintained to their former appearance.

The streets in Category 2 are important enough to merit preservation but not so important as to merit restoration; therefore, those bricks are replaced and the disturbed areas restored to their former appearance. Category 3 encompasses a hybrid, so to speak; every effort is made to preserve brick streets in this category, but resurfacing and patching with materials other than bricks may be allowed.

Obviously, it’s not a job that can be completed in a matter of days. Agans and Wallentine noted that it is tedious to work with bricks, because they need to be removed one at a time, palletized or stored, and replaced one by one once the work is completed. “It tends to be more expensive because of the expertise needed when handling brick streets.”

Also, “they are difficult to maintain because of the individuality of each brick,” explained Agans. “Currently, we do not have a budgeting mechanism set up for this. These conversations are ongoing, and something we are looking to set up in the future.”

According to the plan, a long-term maintenance policy will be established once funding is feasible. The city would also maintain the Brick Streets and Paving Committee and ask it to meet on an as-needed basis as different occurrences arise.

Agans and Wallentine are clear on what the policy is and is not.

“This is not for bricks underneath other surfaces; it is specific to the .75 miles of brick streets that we have, and restoration depends on the condition of the bricks.”

Brick preservation work could begin with an inventory of brick streets and obtaining a survey company to do a condition assessment to find out if it is feasible to preserve them.

The policy is ongoing and will apply to any future projects or work done that includes Denison’s brick streets.

The community response has been positive, they say.

On the other side of the country, Lakeland, Fla., experienced something never seen before in Heath Frederick’s tenure as public works director.

Lakeland also has brick streets, and recently, a heavy flow of water worked its way under the brick on a particular street.

“I’ve been here seven years and never seen it happen before. We do not anticipate this happening in a normal rainfall, but anything is possible in an extreme rain event,” Frederick said.

They removed and reset the older bricks, which had shifted over several years of use. The street department then installed a Portland and sand mix to fill gaps between the bricks to lessen the chance of infiltration. Why Portland cement?

Portland cement is also known as hydraulic cement because it is capable of setting and hardening when mixed with water. A chemical reaction between the two creates a material with excellent binding properties.

In addition to aesthetics and historical value, Frederick understands additional reasons why brick streets are preferred in certain areas.

“They help with speed control. A lot of times, that’s why residents will request them. And a lot of residents like the look they bring back to the road.”

In addition to reduced maintenance cost, brick streets add to the character of residential neighborhoods, helping to maintain or enhance property values. It is because of their textured surface that speed is reduced.

A section of Lakeland roadway on which restoration was requested three years ago was begun this past June and completed in August. It wasn’t an unusual request, and there are funds in the budget for brick restoration projects, but they typically cover one project a year – so it took a while for that request to come to the top of the list.

Frederick said the road was likely paved over with asphalt in the early to mid-1980s. The restoration cost was set at $180,000.

But, he reasoned, “They help with stormwater. They are a lot more porous; the water dissipates faster.”

He further explained, “We do not use new materials. All bricks to be used are already in place. What we do is remove any surfacing installed over the brick. Winter doesn’t seem to be an issue, because in Florida we don’t see freezing temperatures. As long as the water flows correctly on the brick streets, and algae doesn’t build, then the street doesn’t get slippery when wet. And if we get reports of water standing, we have maintenance protocols for adjustments to get the water flowing properly.”

A typical asphalt road may require major maintenance work within 10 to 15 years. However, a properly installed brick street may not require major maintenance work for 40 to 50 years, Frederick said.

In Rensselaer, Ind., Jerry Lockridge, city project coordinator, is just beginning a brick street project.

It’s a big project – removing all the bricks, grading underneath so it’s all flat and smooth, and then installing new water and sewage lines – all before the bricks can be re-laid.

“The hope is to save as many of the original bricks as possible for use with the new roadway,” Lockridge said. “It’s a combination of history and aesthetics, and the grant we received says you have to use 60% of the original bricks.”

Some towns have taken further the attraction to brick street restoration by installing streetlights reminiscent of gaslights, though they are mostly lit with LED bulbs. There’s no question about the visual appeal, and leaders say it might even lead to slowing down for a walk and enjoying the ambience. It’s one way to straddle the bridge of history and technology.

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