Work is scheduled to begin on sites near the eastern border of the county and move west. This aggregate, known as chips, helps extend the life of a pavement by reducing the wear and tear on the underlying asphalt from car and truck tires as well as improving skid characteristics by providing a rough surface for tires to grip. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians may wish to choose alternative routes until the post-sweeping is completed, usually within 72 hours after chip application. Care should be taken accordingly. Coat A seal coat is used to seal very small cracks and to rejuvinate the underlying asphalt.
Asphalt pavements oxidize over time and becomes increasingly brittle.
The seal coat adds compounds which help reverse the effects of the oxidation. Its effects do not penetrate much below the surface. This treatment is usually used on newer asphalt roads which do not have significant deterioration. The application of a seal coat is similar to a chip seal with the exception that no aggregate chips are used. Occasionally sand will be spread over a small area or intersection to allow normal traffic to return sooner than would otherwise be possible.