05/23/2007: "Chip Seal Success Says PW"

Public Works Director Jon Shannon has presented the County Council with an update on the ongoing chip seal repair of roads in the county, and the news is good. Shannon said the new rock, emulsion and training has been highly successful, and has “turned out better than expected”. Shannon said that the previous chip seal had rock (“chips”) that had only embedded 20 to 30%, whereas the new procedure has resulted in embedment rates of 75 to 80%.

The chip-seal program is a full day ahead of schedule, and the trucks, crews and equipment will have completed the first stage of work on San Juan today, and then will be headed to Lopez. The final stage will be a “fog seal” to the road surface, and this is scheduled to be completed by June 10th -weather permitting.

Shannon said that the response from the public has been “overwhelmingly good”, and said that his department wants public comment, preferable in writing, but cautions that it will be a full 30 days until the emulsion has “set”, so asks that the public withhold full judgment until that time.

And speaking of chips, due to the loose rock -and drivers not slowing down on the new surfaces- the number of chipped windshields has increased. Some cars have received multiple strikes, resulting in chips, and with some strikes leading to windshield cracks. Novas glass repair will be on San Juan Island June 13th; and in the meantime it is important to cover the chip to keep out dirt.