Public Works Crews to Perform Springtime Street Maintenance Projects
Published on March 07, 2023
Public Works crews have several street maintenance projects planned for the Spring, including crack, slurry and chip sealing treatments. Below are summaries of each type of project and the benefit it has on our roads.
Crack Sealing: Once a crack has formed in the asphalt, it will continue to grow and deteriorate the surrounding asphalt allowing moisture to penetrate the pavement and saturating the base. Some benefits to crack sealing include: preventing potholes, prolonging pavement life, and preventing water from entering the sub-base.
The City will perform asphalt crack sealing at various locations throughout the city and will continue through September. Crack seal is an integral part of preventative maintenance that helps preserve the life of our roads. This work is a fast-paced, mobile operation in residential areas and on major and minor streets over the next several months. Access to businesses and homes will be maintained. Please follow traffic signs carefully, expect delays, and use caution through construction zones. Typical working hours are weekdays from 7 AM to 5PM.
Slurry Seal: A mixture of asphalt emulsion, mineral aggregate, water, and additives is applied to roads with minor deterioration. A slurry seal application can treat narrow surface cracks and protects the pavement from raveling, moisture intrusion, and oxidation. Overall, this process helps restore and extend the life of our roads. This application requires a full road closure for of 4-8 hours. Posted closure/detour signs will guide travelers around the affected area. Slurry seal is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled if conditions are not dry.
Chip Seal: Chip seal is a surface treatment that is applied to existing roadways, consisting of an asphalt binder with a layer of embedded aggregate. Resurfacing treatments is cost-effective, extends pavement life, helps reduce water damage, and creates a skid-resistant surface. This application provides a swift return to traffic.
A newly applied chip seal will shed rock for several weeks; this is normal, and street sweeping will remove the excess gravel. At first, the chip seal has a rougher surface than asphalt, but it will get smoother over time as vehicles drive on it.
The table below outlines the scheduled dates for these maintenance projects.
