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Yelm public works outlines crack sealing, striping and sidewalk work ahead of busy summer
Summary
City public works staff described a summer program of crack sealing and striping designed to extend pavement life, sidewalk grinding and panel replacement plans, recent flood fixes, WSDOT jurisdictional limits on state routes, and truck‑route planning tied to the Northern Loop.
City public works and public services staff presented road and sidewalk work planned for the coming months and answered council questions about jurisdiction, schedules and techniques.
Staff said the city will perform crack sealing on a group of streets this summer; crack sealing uses a hot‑applied sealant to slow deterioration and can extend pavement life roughly four to eight years. After sealing, Thurston County will restripe roads the city identifies. Asphalt Patch Systems is contracted to do the crack sealing; striping will be coordinated with Thurston County. Staff estimated the work will continue through the summer and into October, when wet weather typically ends such projects.
On sidewalks, staff described a mix of approaches: diamond‑blade grinding on raised panels and full panel replacement where grinding is not feasible. The city said its streets crew can pour single sidewalk panels in house and that a small number of panels have been replaced recently.
Staff also discussed recent drainage work: crews installed a drain near Carstars and Timberland Bank and a sidewalk drain on the opposite side of State Route 507 to address recurring flooding. Clark Road presents a more complex problem because the adjacent property is not city‑owned; staff said they are pursuing creative solutions that do not require full reconstruction of state pavement.
Council members asked about state jurisdiction on routes SR 507 and SR 510; staff said WSDOT owns curb‑to‑curb segments and is responsible for pothole repair on those state routes, though the city will notify WSDOT and can perform interim maintenance. Staff also said the city has discussed a truck route tied to the Northern Loop project with WSDOT; the plan would route heavy trucks through First Street and onto NP or Rotten Road to reach the bypass, but no maintenance agreement with WSDOT has been negotiated.
Questions about sidewalk technology and panel resetting generated staff responses describing a past vendor attempt to lift and re‑set panels that failed because panels broke; the city now pours some panels in‑house. Staff warned that any work in WSDOT right‑of‑way can trigger larger requirements — for example, paving or lane work — that increase project cost.
