Highway Department Announces Sealcoating Schedule In Wright County

Press release from the Wright County Government:

May 21, 2021

Wright County’s Seasonal Seal Coating Program is scheduled to begin on Monday, May 24, 2021 on approximately 31 miles of Wright County Highways. Locations of seal coating routes are below & shown on the attached map. It is expected that all work will be completed within two weeks (weather permitting).

• County Highway 3, from CR 129 to County Highway 2
• County Road 129
• County Highway 3 from U.S. Hwy. 12 to County Highway 35
• County Highway 4 from U.S. Hwy. 12 to County Highway 35
• County Highway 37, from County Highway 3 to County Highway 5
• County Highway 5, from County Highway 37 to the So. Limits of Annandale

Allied Blacktop Company of Maple Grove will be doing the work on this year’s seal coat program. The highways will remain open while the work is completed. Flaggers or a Pilot Car will be present to help guide traffic through the work area depending on the operation and motorists should expect minor delays.

Seal coating is a preventive maintenance activity that extends the life of the pavement that would otherwise need to have a more expensive repair sooner. It involves spraying asphalt cement on the surface of an existing pavement followed by the application of a cover aggregate (pea rock or granite) and includes a thin fog coating of asphalt. The primary reason to seal coat asphalt pavement is to protect the pavement from the deteriorating effects of sun and water. When pavement is exposed to sun, wind and water, the asphalt hardens, or oxidizes. This causes the pavement to become more brittle. As a result, the pavement will crack because it is unable to bend and flex when exposed to traffic and temperature changes. A seal coat combats this situation by providing a waterproof membrane which not only slows down the oxidation process but also helps the pavement to shed water.

Those with questions or would like additional information on this important safety project, please call (763) 682-7383 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday.

This press release was produced by the Wright County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.