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6/17/2016

Countywide chip seal program begins June 20

As the weather gets warmer, Skagit County Public Works crews will get busier. Starting next week, crews begin work on their annual countywide chip sealing program.

Drivers in the Clear Lake area can expect to see the first chip seal crews on the roads Monday, June 20, through Friday, June 24, near Buchanan Hill and Beaver Lake Road. The following week, crews are expected to work on O Avenue near Anacortes.

Throughout the summer, drivers can expect chip seal crews to work on roads in Sedro Woolley, Hamilton, Big Lake Rockport, Bayview and near Conway.

“We know lane closures and reduced speed limits can be an inconvenience for folks who are trying to get to and from work or other summer activities,” said public works director Dan Berentson. “The sealing program helps smooth out rough areas and preserve our roads so we can extend their useful lifespan.”

Chip sealing is a multi-step process: Crews first remove debris near the edge of the road and repair any major areas of settlement. Once that work is complete, crews close one lane of the road, then spread a thin layer of asphalt oil over the entire road followed by a layer of fine rock chips. Crews roll the rock into the asphalt so everything sticks together, then sweep off the loose debris. It takes several days for the new road surface to cure, which is why the speed limit is temporarily lowered to 25 mph.

You can find a complete list of all of the roads to be chip sealed on the Skagit County public works website at http://skagitcounty.net/Departments/PublicWorksRoadMaintenance/chipsealing.htm. Click on District 1, 2, or 3 for roads in your area. For questions or more details, please contact Andy Shaw at andys@co.skagit.wa.us or 360-416-1484.