Street Chip Seal and Sealant Work: Updated

Update, August 4: This schedule has been updated. Go to Street Sealant Work Planned to see the updated schedule.

Update, July 29: The schedule below has been updated. Work in Thousand Oaks will continue through Saturday, July 30. Work on the Shell Road and Williams Drive intersection is scheduled to begin at 3 a.m. on Sunday, July 31 and be complete by 9 a.m. that morning. Work on Shell Road also is scheduled for Sunday, July 31. Crews will use a pilot car to move traffic through the work area.

Street resurfacing on city streets with a chip seal treatment and a sealant product is scheduled for the next five weeks. Chip seal resurfacing and sealant work is planned for segments of Williams Drive and Shell Road as well as residential streets in the Thousand Oaks Subdivision. Sealant work is scheduled for Sun City Boulevard, Cool Spring Way, and Pedernales Falls Drive.

Below is the schedule for chip seal and sealant work:

• July 25 – 30: Chip seal on residential streets in Thousand Oaks subdivision
• July 31: Chip seal on Shell Road (Williams Drive to Westbury Lane/Bellaire Drive)
• August 1 – 5: Chip seal on Williams Drive (DB Wood/Shell Road to Sedro Trail)
• August 8 – 9: Sealant on residential streets in Thousand Oaks subdivision
• August 10: Sealant on Shell Road (Williams Drive to Westbury Lane/Bellaire Drive)
• August 11 – 12: Sealant on Williams Drive (DB Wood/Shell Road to Sedro Trail)
• August 15 – 26: Sealant (PMM) on Sun City Boulevard, Cool Spring Way, and Pedernales Falls Drive

The work schedule can be affected by weather conditions, mechanical issues, and product availability.

Map and schedule for chip seal and sealant work: Street Chip Seal Map 7-22-16

Traffic Impact

During the resurfacing process, one lane in each direction will remain open to traffic. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes, when possible, when paving is scheduled on arterials like Williams Drive or Sun City Boulevard.

Drivers should expect delays and look for flaggers in a moving work area. Drivers should reduce their speed and increase the spacing distance between vehicles to reduce problems with loose rock on roadway.

Chip seal operations will begin after 7:30 a.m. and will end by 5 p.m. each day. Look for electronic message boards or door flyers in the neighborhood with information about the resurfacing schedule.

Chip Seal Process

Chip seal resurfacing involves applying a layer of emulsion to the roadway followed by a layer of pebble-sized stone. The chip seal will be applied in two courses, one lane at a time. The first course will be installed by applying a coat of asphalt emulsion oil to the existing pavement and a grade 4 (coarser) rock will be placed on top of the oil and rolled into place with pneumatic wheeled rollers. Once the grade 4 rock is installed, a second coat of asphalt emulsion oil will be placed on the grade 4 rock and a grade 5 (finer coarse) rock will be installed on top of the grade 4 rock and rolled in to place. The combination of aggregates lock together to form a durable protective cover extending the useful life of the pavement. The contractor will then use a vacuum sweeper to remove excess rock over the next 10 days. At the end of the 10 days, the contractor will come back and apply a Fastset seal oil on top of the chip seal application. This polymer modified product helps to minimize future aggregate loss, assists in long-term color retention, and reduces roadway noise.

Driving on a Newly Chip Sealed Road

Since roads will remain open during chip seal application, a smooth flow of traffic through the work area is required. Driving slowly and avoiding sharp turns, hard braking, or tire spinning will allow the fresh chip seal to set properly.

Observe Posted Speeds

Until a road has been swept multiple times to remove loose rock, lower speeds need to be observed so chip rock isn’t dislodged, and passing vehicles aren’t damaged by flying chip rock. During the chip seal process the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph. By driving 25 mph or less, you protect your vehicle from unnecessary damage that can be caused by the sprayed asphalt and/or loose chip rock. The slower speed also decreases the chance of damage from rocks which may be thrown up from other vehicles.

Traffic moving at higher speeds can create dust, limit visibility, and cause an inconvenience to local residents and/or businesses. Increased speeds can also cause gravel to break loose from a fresh chip seal creating the risk of flying rock. Rocks thrown from your tires may crack or break a windshield. Flying rocks might also injure pedestrians, bicycle riders, or motorcyclists.

Traveling at the posted construction speed limit in construction zones will ensure your safety and the safety of the road maintenance crews. It’s also the law. Obeying warning signs and flagging personnel instructions benefits all those who share the roadway with you, too.

PMM Sealant

A sealant called Polymer Modified MasterSeal or PMM will be applied to Sun City Boulevard, Cool Spring Way, and Pedernales Falls Drive to provide a rubberized surface with added flexibility and adhesion. The sealant will improve the driving surface and increase protection from the weather. Public notification about the street sealant work will be done before work starts.

For questions about the road work or schedule, contact Customer Care at (512) 930-3640.