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Street Maintenance Projects
Asphalt is known as a flexible pavement which operates differently than a rigid pavement, such as concrete. The advantages of a flexible pavement are that it can expand and contract easier across varying temperatures and tends to have a smoother ride for travelers due to its flexible properties. Given it is a flexible pavement it requires the support of well compacted layers of soil and gravel beneath the asphalt layer so that vehicles and trucks can travel on it without it crumbling.
Once constructed, the asphalt pavement, gravel base, and underlying soils are exposed to varying temperatures, water, snow, solar radiation, chemicals, salt, sand, and all types of weather over the course of its lifecycle. Depending on how well the asphalt pavement is maintained, will determine how long the road will last.
The Village of Weston maintains its asphalt roads using several different strategies in an effort to maximize the longevity of our road infrastructure and to protect the Village's investment. This approach is no different than a homeowner maintaining their home or a owner maintaining their vehicle. We all want to protect our investment the best we can.
Below are four different strategies the Public Works Department is utilizing to help maintain the Village of Weston's road infrastructure.
Since asphalt is a flexible pavement, cracks will develop over time as the pavement expands and contracts through our changing seasons and as more heavy trucks use the road.
In an effort to protect the asphalt from cracking excessively, the cracks need to be sealed to keep water from infiltrating into the gravel and soil layers beneath the asphalt pavement. Water that passes into and through these cracks to the gravel and soil beneath end up causing premature damage to the roadway. Excess water in the gravel and soil beneath the pavement weakens the material so it cannot properly support the asphalt. As a result, the asphalt flexes more than necessary under heavier traffic loads. This is why weight limit restrictions in the early spring months are enforced so to protect asphalt roads when there is a lot of water in the soils supporting the pavements. This same water causes issues in the winter when the snow melts and gets under the pavement when the cracks are not properly sealed. Once in the cracks and underneath the pavement, the water does not evaporate as quickly and will freeze first causing ice to expand in the cracks thus breaking the asphalt and making the cracks larger. In addition, the water beneath the asphalt will cause the road to heave and have a hump all winter long until the weather gets warm enough for the ice to melt and the water to evaporate or infiltrate. This is why we begin crack sealing our streets within the first couple years of a road getting repaved.
The Contractor will use a routing tool to follow and clean the crack at which time they will then use a blower to blow away any loose material before filling the routed crack with the asphaltic sealant. The sealant is a very sticky material so Contractors are required to cover or coat the sealant with a detackifier or a water-soluble paper so that the sealant doesn't get pulled out of the cracks as vehicles travel across it or turn on it.
By applying a compound to the asphalt, the Village is able to slow the oxidation process of the asphalt pavement and preserve pavement flexibility. This is a proactive approach to street maintenance designed to prevent and delay damage to good pavement. Extending the life of roads is financially sound as it preserves our assets and resources which costs the Village less money over the life of the road.
Once applied, the sealing product will dry in 4-6 hours depending on the air temperature that day. If you have a sprinkler system, please do not run it in the early morning of, or on the day of the sealant application as it will impact the sealant.
At least one day prior to work being performed the Contractor will notify residents by placing "No Parking" signs along the street and a notification on the street-facing entry door of each residence to let residents know of the upcoming work and at that all vehicles will need to be moved and parked on neighboring streets.
Please be advised that your vehicles will be required to be parked in driveways or on adjacent streets on the day of and for the duration of the sealing application and drying process on your street. Parked cars on a posted street will be towed.
Driving or walking on newly applied sealant material before it has cured will damage the street and stick to your shoes, be splattered onto your vehicle and will track onto concrete driveways. The material is adhesive but can be removed from the vehicles with products available at local auto parts stores. Read and follow the directions if required to use removal materials. Asphalt emulsion sealer will be damaged by sharp turning during the curing phase, specifically power steering turns. This can be avoided by making wide turns. Always be sure the vehicle is moving before turning the steering wheel.
Tentative 2025 Schedule Planned (Weather Dependent):
- Schofield Avenue (Ryan St to CTH J), June 24-25
- Ryan Street (Commerce Dr to Weston Ave), June 25-26
- Apache Lane, N. Apache Lane, Estate Drive, Executive Court, June 26-27
- Windemere Oaks Neighborhood, June 30-July 1
- Crestwood Acres Neighborhood, July 1-July 2
- Neupert Avenue (BUS 51 to Alderson St), July 2-July 3
Work related to the asphalt overlays can begin as early as late June and will continue into July and August.
Prior to paving the asphalt overlays, the Public Works Street crew will remove roughly 1-inch of asphalt (called a milled butt joint) along concrete curb & gutter (if present), driveways, and at intersecting side streets. In addition any utility structures, such as manhole castings and valve boxes, will be raised 1-inch above the existing asphalt pavement. The Village will place rubber transitions over the raised utility structures to protect the infrastructure and vehicles passing through. Please be cautious while travelling through these areas and try your best to avoid these raised structures.
Once all milled butt joints are complete and utility structures are adjusted, the Contractor will begin to mobilize for paving the overlays on the streets in July and/or August. This work is highly dependent on the weather (precipitation and temperature) so please remain to be patient. The asphalt overlay will be an 1-inch thick asphalt layer with fiber reinforcement to help restore the cross slope of the road, minimize reflective cracking, and to improve the rideability of the driving surface.
Work related to the asphalt milling and pulverizing can vary depending on the overall scope of the project but traditionally begins in June and ends by early Fall.
The Contractor will begin to mobilize their large equipment and trucks hauling milled asphalt from the street or if they are pulverizing, the material will be regraded on site. Once the milled surface or pulverized asphalt is regraded, the Contractor will begin paving. This work is highly dependent on the weather (precipitation and temperature) so please remain to be patient.
If the Contractor is paving on a milled surface, a thin layer of oil, called tack coat, will be sprayed onto the lower existing asphalt to help bond the old asphalt with the new asphalt. This asphalt overlay can be a single layer, called a lift, or may be two layers or more, depending on the removal depth. Paving requires freshly made asphalt being trucked to the site while it's still very hot, then the Contractor uses a paver machine to place the asphalt at the correct consistency, thickness, and cross slope. Behind the paver, there will be two vibratory rollers (hot roller and cold roller) compacting the asphalt to the correct density. It is important that you do not drive on the asphalt between the paver and the rollers as this is loose material that will stick to your tires and vehicle. After the rollers pass and if the lift is the last layer, or surface layer, the Contractor may request drivers not travel on the asphalt for about an hour so the asphalt properly cools and is ready for vehicles to travel on it. The Contractor will be using flagging operations to direct traffic around the paving operation as necessary. Please be prepared to take an alternative route or wait patiently as this work is completed.
The Village apologizes for any resulting inconvenience experienced during the time this work is being performed either near your home or along the route you may be taking while this work is being completed. Please understand that the Village is performing this maintenance to protect the Village infrastructure investment for years to come. Thank you for your understanding, patience, and cooperation during this much needed maintenance project.
If you should have any questions about the proposed work, please feel free to contact the Public Works & Utilities staff listed here.