Road Maintenance Projects

2,804 shoulder miles | September–July 
250 miles annually maintained 

• Improves sight distance
• Speeds up snow melt
• Improves air flow and sun exposure
• Reduces vehicle damage

10,229 catch basins | January–December

• Minimizes flooding
• Protects road base

2,000 shoulder miles | October–November, April–June
40 miles annually maintained  

• Maintains water flow through drainage channels
• Prevents overflow
• Controls erosion after heavy storms
• Protects road base

2,317 culverts, 4 miles of frontage pipe | January–December

• Imitates natural water flow
• Minimizes flooding

21 miles | January–December

• Supports traveler safety
• Reduces risk of vehicles running off the road
• Reduces risk of head-on crashes

1,200 miles of yellow striping and 900 miles of white striping | July–October

• Increased visibility, especially at night
• Provides clear boundaries for all road users  
• Protects turning traffic and reduces crashes

2,845 lane miles | March–October

• Prevents sinkholes
• Maintains integrity of road base 

2,845 lane miles | January–December

• Reduces road deterioration
• Reduces vehicle damage
• Protects road base

2,804 shoulder miles | September–July 1 

• Improves visibility
• Improves access to shoulders and ditches for maintenance
• Reduces chance of fire from vehicles on the side of the road or dragging chains 
   

2,804 paved shoulder miles, 2,359 gravel shoulder miles | October–November, February–May

• Reduces abrupt edges
• Provides area outside travel lane to maneuver
• Protects structural integrity of road edge

2,381 manholes, 230 dry wells | January–December

• Drains surface water
• Filters water before entering larger drainage system

69,808 signs at 16,543 locations | January–December

• Controls traffic and provides safety for all road users
• Provides directions, caution and regulation information
• Evolves with road system to improve safety and efficiency

165 traffic signals | January–December

• Controls traffic and provides safety for all road users
• Adjusts signals in real-time based on traffic flow
• Reduces congestion and maintains traffic flow
   

564 lane miles | January–December

• Allows for drainage of storm water
• Reduces pollution, reduces drainage maintenance
• Improves safety, health and water quality

A chip seal is a coating of liquid asphalt and rock chips applied to the existing roadway to extend the life of the pavement. There are four steps in the chip sealing process – applying an oil patch to the most degraded areas, putting down the chip seal, sweeping up excess rock chips and fog sealing (applying a thin coat of asphalt on top of the chip seal).

Though your street is in basically sound condition, it needs routine maintenance to protect it. Chip sealing, which is effective for 7-10 years, stops water from seeping through the surface and damaging the pavement and road base. It costs less to apply chip seal to the street surface than to fix the street base if it is damaged.

Once oil patches are applied, they are allowed to cure for one-two weeks before the chip seal is added. The sweeping and fog sealing are done as soon as possible after the chip seal, usually within 1-2 days based upon weather and the availability of work crews. While the surface can be driven or walked on at any stage, after the process is complete it takes about two weeks before the chip seal is firmly set.

If it is raining or if rain is in the forecast, we will assign our crews to other work for the day. Chip seal must go on a dry surface. That is also why we ask that you make sure any sprinklers are turned off beginning at midnight the night before the chip seal work is scheduled.

You will receive a notice at your door a few days ahead of time. If it does rain, work may be delayed.

Please move your car off the street from the time the chip sealing begins to the completion of the fog sealing process – a period of approximately 2-3 days. You will always be able to drive through the area, but the entire street surface must be available for the work crews. Please also let family, friends and delivery people know not to park their vehicle on the street during that time period. If a vehicle is left on the street, we try to find the owner, but delays cost tax money. Therefore, cars not moved by the time the work begins will be towed at the owner's expense. If your car is towed, contact the Sheriff's Office, 503-655-8441.