Washington County chip seals rural roads

Update: 08/05/13
All roads chip sealed last month (see list below) are scheduled to be swept and fog sealed by the end of this week (August 9).

Bicyclists are advised to avoid roads during and immediately after chip sealing. During the chip seal process, the road surface is covered with small, loose rock. To reduce the amount of loose rock, a polymerized (stickier) asphalt is used, a roller presses the rock into the asphalt, and the surface is swept multiple times. The process is completed with a fog seal, a fine spray of liquid asphalt and sand. The fog seal fills small voids, providing a smoother surface, turns the road color from light gray to black, and improves the performance of the chip seal. The process may take several weeks from start to completion. Your patience is appreciated.

Over half of the 1,300 miles of roads maintained by Washington County are scenic two-lane rural roads, winding through farms, forests, nurseries and vineyards. Chip sealing is a cost-effective road maintenance treatment for rural roads, preserving the road surface and extending the life of the pavement. When a road is properly maintained by chip sealing every 7 to 10 years, then much more expensive repaving is necessary only every 20 to 30 years.

Chip sealing starts in July and is completed by the end of August. The most up-to-date schedule information is posted online at www.wc-roads.com or call 503-846-ROAD (846-7623). Following is a list of the roads being chip sealed this summer (2013):

• B Street from Hwy 47 north to end of County Jurisdiction
• Chapman Road from Hwy 99 to Kruger Rd
• Dixon Mill Road from House #39882 to Hardebeck Road
• Kerkman Road from Zion Church Road to Harrington Road
• Laurelwood Road from Bald Peak Road to Parmele Road
• Roy Road from Cornelius‐Schefflin Road to Mountaindale Road
• Scholls‐Sherwood Road from Roy Rogers Road to Stark Road
• Seiffert Road from Mountain Home Road to Hwy 219
• Shadybrook Road from North Avenue to Dixie Mountain Road
• Stafford Road from Strohmayer Road to Hwy 6
• Vernonia Road from Hwy 26 to Columbia County Jurisdiction

We recognize that this road work causes some short-term inconvenience. Please keep in mind that the result is a long-term benefit to all road users, including bicyclists.

Related: Chip Seal Fact Sheet

Washington County is committed to planning, building and maintaining the best transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and to operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

Media Contact: