Residents raise safety concerns as county chip‑seal waits weeks for line painting

Residents told the Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners that chip‑sealed roads are remaining unstriped for several weeks, creating visibility hazards at night, and asked the county when striping will be completed.

Susan, the county engineer, told the board the striping program is underway and the contractor hopes to finish by early September. She said striping typically occurs about a week and a half after chip sealing because crews must sweep loose materials before painting.

A resident said some chip‑sealed roads had reflective tabs placed before sealing and then were sprayed over during chip sealing, removing reflectivity. Susan acknowledged the concern and said road supervisors choose which roads get the tabs.

Susan said the contract focuses on collectors and roads that were overlaid or chip‑sealed this year. She explained striping contractors work in geographic batches and that weather — particularly fog in low‑lying areas — can cause teams to move around the county. "They tend to start go through areas," she said, "so sometimes they bounce around because of weather, especially South County."

County commissioners and residents asked whether striping crews wait until the entire county program is finished before returning to paint newly chip‑sealed roads. Susan said the contractor sequences work by area and road type and that crews are trying to complete collector roads and recent overlays before September in case weather intervenes.

The board did not take formal action on the item; the engineer provided a schedule and technical explanation and will continue coordinating with residents and the striping contractor.