Why Chip Seal?
A road surface will only last so long. The weight of vehicles and the movement of the earth below cause cracks. Water infiltrates the cracks, freezes and thaws, and causes the pavement to deteriorate. One of the most cost-effective ways to extend the life of a road surface is called chip sealing. As practiced by the Saginaw County Road Commission, the chip seal process can extend the life of roadways by 5 to 7 years.
Preparation
SCRC completes chip seal projects county-wide, from rural roads to urban streets.
In preparation, Sign Shop crews will place loose stone signs at project sites to warn drivers of loose stone.
Expect to see these orange warning signs before the project starts
The roadway is inspected and repaired before application.
Surface defects are addressed to ensure proper adhesion.
In some cases, high shoulders are removed to help the roadway shed water.
Application
This is a 4- to 5-step process that involves many large pieces of moving equipment.
A layer of asphalt emulsion is applied to the pavement
surface. This has a shiny wet look and should not be driven on by the public.
Aggregate chips are immediately spread over the emulsion.
Rollers embed the aggregate into the binder creating a
durable wearing surface.
Clean Up
Excess aggregate is swept from the roadway after the binder
has cured.
Fog Seal
A fog seal may be applied to lock in aggregate, improve
surface durability and appearance.
Overview
Check out the crew in action at link below