Street Chip Seal and Sealant Work in Old Town

Updated, August 19: This schedule has been updated. Go to this page.
Updated, August 16: Rain this week has delayed work on this project. Once the weather clears, a revised schedule will be posted.

Street resurfacing on city streets with a chip seal treatment and a sealant product is scheduled for the next three weeks. Chip seal resurfacing and asphalt emulsion sealant work is planned for the segments of Walnut and Pine streets north of University Avenue as well as the cross streets in that section. Other streets include Southwestern Boulevard and Haven Lane.

Below is the schedule for chip seal and sealant work:

• August 10 – 18: Chip seal on Walnut and Pine streets north of University Avenue, plus cross streets, and Haven Lane
• August 19 – 23: Chip seal on Southwestern Boulevard
• August 24 – 26: Sealant on Walnut and Pine streets north of University Avenue, plus cross streets, and Haven Lane
• August 27: Sealant on Southwestern Boulevard

See the attached map showing the work area: Street Chip Seal SE Map 8-5-16

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

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.

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.

Observe Posted Speeds

During the chip seal process the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph. Until a road has been swept multiple times to remove loose rock, lower speeds will greatly reduce the chance of flying rock. Traveling at the posted speed limit in construction zones will ensure your safety and the safety of the road maintenance crews. It’s also the law to observe posted speeds and instructions of flaggers in a work area.

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