Public Works
Public Works Blog
Summer means it's road preservation time
Posted On: June 22, 2017
Have you checked the Public Works website to see which roads are scheduled for preservation – or chip sealing – work this summer?
The roads in the Preservation Program were previously identified based on a rating system that defines what state the pavement is in and what fix is required. Roads scheduled for the Preservation Program this year are:
- Cashmere District: Bardin James, Zager, Fairview Canyon, Bridge Street, Iroquois Lane, Hay Canyon, Pioneer Way and Main Street.
- Chelan District: Cagle Gulch, Union Valley Road, Antoine Creek and North Bradley Street.
- Leavenworth District: Camp 12 Road, Plain Ranches Road, Hazel Street, Hazel Lane, Wye Connector Road, Lake Wenatchee Highway, Maple Drive and White River.
- Wenatchee District: Mission Ridge Road, Forest Ridge Road, Tamarack Place, Summit View Place, Pinehurst Place, Fircrest, Alder Court and No. 2 Canyon Road.
Chip-sealing is a three-step process: crack sealing, pre-level work and then, lastly, chip sealing.
Crews have been out crack sealing for the past several weeks on Preservation Program roads. Crack sealing is just what it sounds like. It’s a preventative maintenance step where hot sealant is filled into cracks in the roadway to prevent against further water damage.
Once all the roads are crack sealed, crews return for pre-level work. Beginning the week of June 26, crews will apply a thin layer of asphalt over Preservation Program roads to fill in ruts and low spots in preparation for chip sealing.
Chip sealing is a coating of liquid asphalt and gravel applied to an existing roadway. Chip sealing, when all the steps are completed, is effective for seven to 10 years.
To allow each process to cure – and for efficiency – each step of the process is completed throughout the county prior to moving onto the next one. This means, if you live on a road slated for the Preservation Program, it’s likely you will see crews in front of your home more than once during the summer road construction season.
Motorists should expect travel delays during both the pre-level and chip-sealing processes. Expect to see one-lane, flagger-controlled traffic with up to 20-minute delays. Motorist are advised to find alternate routes when crews are in their area.
Go to the Pavement Preservation Program page for a view of the 2017 program’s roadways. Also go to the FAQ page for more information about the preservation process. And to keep up on crews’ progress, watch the Chelan County Public Works Facebook page throughout the summer.
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