Q: Why are workers resurfacing the roadway in front of my property again? I thought they finished things up a few days ago.
A: Caldwell County’s process for paving its unit roads involves chip sealing, which contains multiple steps. Gravel is applied to the road surface. Once enough is on the road, workers can begin processing it and getting it hardened on top. It’s bladed and wetted with water and then compacted. Once the water is applied and it’s rolled out, workers put down a water-based emulsion, and once that dries they apply regular seal coating oil that the rock is embedded in. The oil truck applies the oil ahead of a chip spreader that follows it and rolls the rocks into the oil.
But that’s not where it ends. With a solid gravel road, you need to apply a second layer of rock to give the chip seal surface enough thickness to withstand the wear and tear from traffic. While hot-mix asphalt jobs usually involve one to two inches of material, a chip seal layer is 3/8 inch. That’s why two layers are needed. If you see the crews making a second pass, that’s what they’re doing.
Q: How long does chip sealing last?
A: Paving with chip sealing typically lasts between 5-7 years, depending on factors like weather and traffic.
Q: What are some reasons the county uses chip seal as a road surface rather than hot mix?
A: There are several. Chip seal is more cost effective and the county does not possess the equipment needed to lay hot mix. Additionally, chip sealing can hold up better during periods of heavy rainfall. Hot mix is a coarse material, so when you compress it when it rains, the water can work its way in. With a chip seal, you’ve got the layer of rock and a better chance of the water just running off rather than permeating the surface.
Q. What are some ways the county is working around current water restrictions and drought conditions to continue with road resurfacing?
A. If workers start blading the roads without adequate access to water, the condition of the roadways will worsen. When water companies go to Stage 2 restrictions like many of them have, the unit roads department and even residential developers are disallowed from accessing water for road surfacing projects. Because access to water is restricted, the county’s oil supplier will provide a tanker. That should help the county continue to work on processing the roads and use the portion of the FY 2023 budget allocated for road repairs.