Chip Sealing in Seattle

Updated June 18, 2009

Chip Seal Grid Maps for 2009:

Please note: Maps are subject to change

1. Map for GRID 22: OLYMPIC HILLS (NORTH).
This grid is bounded on the north by NE 145 St, and on the south by NE 135 St. The western boundary is 5 Ave NE, and the eastern boundary is Lake City Wy NE.

Road Maintenance June 2009 notification:

Road Maintenance May 2009 notification:

STREET MAINTENANCE NEWS May, 2009 This summer, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will be in your neighborhood to do preventive maintenance on chip sealed streets. These streets were sealed about 10 years ago, and it is time to reseal them to prolong the life of the street surface. We are sending this notice to you if you live on one of these streets or live in the vicinity that might be affected by the project. We will only work on the streets that have been previously chip sealed. We will not chip seal streets that have already been paved with asphalt or concrete. ♦ Where The area to be resealed is bounded by: NE 145 Street on the north, NE 135 Street on the south, 5 Avenue NE on the west, and Lake City Way NE on the east (Chip Seal Grid #22). To view a map of the streets that will be chip sealed this year, please refer to our web site: http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/chipseal.htm. If you do not have access to the web, you can call 206-396-3556. ♦ When The actual chip seal operation occurs in the summer, usually in July. However, in the spring prior to chip sealing, the streets are inspected and crews make the necessary repairs to prepare for the chip seal process. Weather plays a crucial role in the success of the resealing project. ♦ Parking Parking will be restricted on the streets that will be chip sealed. “No Parking” signs will be placed along both sides of the streets prior to the work so you can move your car from the street or shoulder. Parking restrictions are typically removed as soon as we’re done with the chip seal application. The application process is done within a day. ♦ Traffic Access Access to your driveway may be disrupted for a few minutes, but SDOT crews will work to minimize any delays. The new surface can be driven on almost immediately, but slow speeds are required. ♦ Caution Please drive slowly, no faster than 10 mph, on the new surface for the first several days. This will help the new surface to set and prevent the loosening of aggregate. MORE ABOUT CHIP SEAL… What is chip seal? A chip seal surface consists of an application of liquid asphalt followed by “rock chips” (ranging in size from 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch). Chip sealing is a commonly used preventive maintenance activity for non-arterial streets in many cities and counties. Sweeping After giving the new chip seal time to stabilize, our mechanical sweepers will sweep the streets within several days to remove excess loose rock. Why are some streets chip sealed? Chip sealing is a cost effective surface treatment used on 25% of Seattle’s non-arterial streets. Most of these streets were converted to chip seal in the 1960’s to provide a smooth driving surface on originally dirt or gravel roads, and to cut down on dust and improve air quality. Our street looks fine—why reseal it? Chip sealed streets need periodic resealing to protect them from the deteriorating effects of water (rain) and sun. In time, the surface becomes brittle and may crack. Periodic resealing will prevent more extensive and costly repairs. Regular maintenance is the most cost effective way to maintain streets. FOR MORE INFORMATION Please call Susan Almachar, Program Coordinator, at 206-396-3556, or send e-mail to: susan.almachar@seattle.gov. We will send you another notification before the chip seal work begins. We look forward to maintaining your street this summer! For Street Maintenance Division’s 24-hour emergencies, please call: 206-386-1218.

More about Chip Sealing

SDOT crews prepare deteriorated roads selected for the program. It is essential that damage to the road, such as potholes and cracks, be repaired prior to the chip-seal process.

The City of Seattle began converting dirt and gravel non-arterial streets to chip seal in 1967 with federal money available for this purpose. The goal was to reduce the release of dust and other pollutants into the air and improve air quality. Once the streets were originally chip sealed, the City continued to maintain them with local funds, resealing roads in a different area of the City each year.

Chip seal is an extremely cost efficient road surfacing product that economically provides a skid-resistant surface for almost one quarter of Seattle's nonarterial streets.

The chip seal process is relatively simple: First, an asphalt emulsion is applied to the previously repaired street surface and is immediately followed by a computer-operated chip spreader (this allows for a more accurate and even dispersion of chipped rock) which spreads chipped rock onto the emulsion. The rock is embedded in the emulsion by rollers. At this point, the road is ready for use. Unlike asphalt or concrete streets, chip-sealed streets can be driven on almost immediately after the surface is applied. However, we do ask that for the first few days cars drive no more than 10 miles per hour over the new surface. This will allow the rocks to set and reduce the chance of loose rock damage to your vehicle.

• Chip seal streets are resealed, weather and funds permitting, approximately every 10 years. Chip sealing is a cost-efficient surface treatment that lasts about 10 years, where traffic volumes are low and not used by heavy trucks or buses.
  
  
• The annual work uses about 4,000 tons of crushed rocks (about 266 dump-truck loads) and about 100,000 gallons of asphalt emulsion.
  
  
• The annual sealing process moves quickly.  The crews can cover up to three to four miles a day.

Check out our tip sheet! "Chip Sealing Your Streets - Helpful Tips."


Please call the SDOT Street Maintenance Division at 206-396-3556 for more information about chip sealing in your neighborhood.