Posted
For Immediate Release: Friday, August 08, 2014
Chip sealing completeUPDATED: 08/08/2014
Fog seals were completed this week, which finishes up the chip sealing process. Pre-marking for pavement markings will continue this month, with all striping expected to be complete in September.
Washington County thanks you for your patience during this inconvenient but necessary work.
Chip sealing almost complete
Update: 08/01/2014
The final step in the chip sealing process is on schedule for completion the week of August 4. Hillside, Kemper, Spring Hill and West Union were fog sealed this week. Next week crews will fog seal Pumpkin Ridge, Old Cornelius Pass, Pleasant Valley and Aten roads. If the weather stays favorable, this work will be completed by Wednesday or Thursday, August 6 or 7.
Pavement markings will be restored shortly after the chip seal process is complete.
Chip sealing delayed due to rain
Update: 07/23/2014
Chip sealing was called off on account of rain this week. Work will resume next Monday starting with Pumpkin Ridge Road and then Woollen Road on Tuesday. Crews will switch over to fog sealing on Wednesday and Thursday.
Minor change to chip sealing schedule
Update: 07/17/2014
Chip seals planned for this week are postponed due to equipment and materials availability. County crews still expect to finish chip sealing next week. The final fog sealing on all chip sealed roads is now scheduled to be completed the last week of July.
Chip sealing ahead of schedule
Update: 07/14/2014
County crews started chip sealing rural roads last week. Good weather and efficient operations are helping to speed up this work. Following is the updated schedule:
- Week of July 14 - Chip seals on Pleasant Valley, Aten, Old Cornelius Pass and West Union. Fog seals on Hillside, Kemper and Spring Hill
- Week of July 21 - Chip seals on West Union, Pumpkin Ridge and Woolen
- Week of July 28 - Fog seals on remaining chip sealed roads
If this schedule holds, the county's chip seal program will be complete by the end of this month. Find the most up-to-date schedule information on www.wc-roads.com or call (503) 846-ROAD (846-7623).
Chip sealing starts, tentative schedule published
Update: 07/08/2014
County crews started chip sealing rural roads this week. Following is the tentative schedule:
- This week - Hillside, Kemper and Spring Hill roads
- Week of July 14 - Spring Hill, West Union, Old Cornelius Pass roads
- Week of July 21 - Pumpkin Ridge, Pleasant Valley, Aten roads
- Week of July 28 - Woolen Road
- Week of August 4 - fog seal all chip sealed roads
This schedule may change due to weather, equipment breakdown, availability of materials, or other conditions. The most up-to-date schedule information is posted at www.wc-roads.com or call (503) 846-ROAD (846-7623).
Road Maintenance Program for 2014-2015 approved by Board
Update: 06/27/2014
At its meeting on June 24, the Washington County Board of Commissioners approved the 2014-2015 Road Maintenance Program which includes chip sealing 27 miles of rural roads.
Chip sealing is expected to start in July and be complete by the end of August.
Chip seals planned for rural roads
Original Release: 04/18/2014
The county invites public review and comment on the DRAFT 2014-15 Road Maintenance Program, which includes chip sealing the following roads:
- Aten Road from Pleasant Valley to dead end (west)
- Hillside Road from Kansas City to Clapshaw Hill
- Kemper Road from Hwy 47 to Kansas City
- Old Cornelius Pass Road from Cornelius Pass to Multnomah county line
- Pleasant Valley Road from Scholls Ferry to end of pavement
- Pumpkin Ridge Road from Shadybrook to end of pavement (Murphy)
- Spring Hill Road from Yamhill county line to Hwy 47
- West Union Road from Helvetia to Glencoe
- Woolen Road from Sellers to Green Mountain
Preventive road maintenance saves tax dollars. Over the long-term, it is less expensive to maintain the road surface than to reconstruct it when it fails. Chip sealing is a cost-effective road maintenance treatment, preserving the road surface and extending the life of the pavement. When a road is properly maintained by sealing every 7 to 10 years, then much more expensive repaving is necessary only every 20 to 30 years.
Bicyclists may want to avoid roads during and immediately after chip sealing. During the chip seal process, the road surface is covered with an emulsified asphalt and small rocks (chips). A roller presses the chips into the emulsion, and the surface is swept several times to remove most of the loose material. To reduce the amount of loose chips even more, a polymerized (stickier) asphalt is used. The process is completed with a fog seal, which is a thin film of liquid asphalt and sand. The fog seal fills small voids, providing a smoother surface.
The process may take several weeks from start to finish depending on weather and other factors. Chip sealing starts in July and is completed by the end of August. The most up-to-date schedule information is posted online at www.wc-roads.com or call (503) 846-ROAD (846-7623). Your patience is appreciated.
We recognize that this road work causes some short-term inconvenience. Please keep in mind that the result is a long-term benefit to all road users, including bicyclists.
Related: Chip Seal Fact Sheet
Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining a great transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and to operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.
Media Contact:
Stephen Roberts, Communications Coordinator(503) 846-4963
[email protected]