Adams County road officials told commissioners the county has completed roughly 35 miles of chip seal in recent weeks and explained why the treatment is sometimes applied to newer pavement.

A county highway representative said chip sealing both seals developing cracks and provides an additional wear surface that extends pavement life. "By chip sealing, we seal it back up with the oil, and we put an additional wear surface on it to get more life out of it," the road official said, noting that sealed roads commonly get four to 10 additional years of life depending on traffic and location.

Why it matters: Chip sealing is a lower-cost maintenance treatment that fills and seals cracks, adds traction in wet conditions and prolongs the life of pavements that are starting to age. Staff said the north half of the county can expect 7 to 10 years from a layer of chips; in the southern part of the county the useful life is typically shorter, often two to five years depending on conditions.

Details: Staff said crews have been patching short cracks before sealing and that the treatment can reduce slipperiness on wet pavement by providing a stone surface adhered with oil. Commissioners discussed the county’s asset management approach and noted that shortening report lengths and producing more frequent commissary/financial reports could make reviews easier.

Next steps: Road crews will continue chip-seal work through the season; staff will monitor performance and return with updates as needed.