Chip Sealing begins on area streets

Weather permitting, the City of Sidney Street Department will be conducting a chip sealing project from through July 13.

According to the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) website, chip seal a thin layer of crushed aggregate applied after the roadway has been sprayed with asphalt.

Sidney Street Superintendent Hank Radtke said the city has been patching and removing weeds from designated roads in preparation for the project.

Chip sealing, said Radtke, begins with a covering of oil applied to the street, the rock is then applied and rolled over to be set.

With possible variables such as weather and equipment, Radtke said, it’s hard to say with any certainty what streets the crew will be on what day.

Water is the biggest concern the project faces, Radtke said, if there is water in the gutters or on the street, during the chip sealing or up to four hours after, it could ruin the seal and have to be done again.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of keeping water out of gutters and off of the street,” said Radtke.

Chip sealing has been done in Cheyenne County since early 2000, said Radtke, “it’s a preventive measure, that helps maintain the longevity of the roads.”

Radtke said, the roads chosen to be patched and sealed are rotated over the years and also based on condition.

According to NDOR, chip sealing maintains roads by, keeping water from penetrating the road, fills and seals cracks and raveled surfaces, provides an anti-glare surface during wet weather and an increased reflective surface for night driving, minimizes the effects of aging, and provides a highly skid-resistant surface.

Final preparations for the chip sealing will be June 27 thru July 8, with the exception of the fourth of July holiday weekend.

For the mornings of June 27 thru July 8, while the street department prepares for chip sealing, residents are asked to remove all vehicles and trailers by 7 a.m., with no water running in their gutters.

The chip sealing is set to be conducted July 11, 12, and 13 with weather permitting. On these days residents are asked to have their vehicles and trailers removed from the street by 6 a.m., with no water in the gutters.

Residents are cautioned that failure to remove vehicles and trailers will result in the vehicle or trailer removal at the owner’s expense.

“We realize this is an inconvenience to residents,” said Radtke, “and we appreciate everyones cooperation.”

Radtke said, flaggers will be on site to help with traffic, as streets will not be closed for the process.

“Driving on the roads during the chip sealing process, before they have been rolled is not a good idea,” said Radtke, “and is done at the drivers own risk.”

Streets to be sealed are as follows: 11th Ave. from Toledo St. 77 feet to South Toledo St., 12th Ave. from Hickory St. to Sidney Draw Rd., Jackson St. from 5th Ave. to 23rd Ave., Linden St. from 5th Ave. to 14th Ave., Toledo St. from 10th Ave. to 12th Ave., 16th Ave. from Cedar St. to Manor Rd., Manor Rd. from 16th Ave. to West Dr., West Dr. from the dead end to Sky Rd., Sky Rd. from 17th Ave. to Manor Rd., and East Dr. from Sky Rd. to Manor Rd.

For more information contact the Street Department at 308-254-6377 or the City Office at 308-254-5300.