Residents press Bryan City Council over Huntington Drive chip‑seal problems; city plans warranty rework in July

City staff and Huntington Drive residents debated options for repairing the neighborhood’s chip‑seal streets at the Bryan City Council meeting on Jan. 23, with staff recommending continued chip‑seal maintenance rather than an immediate full asphalt paving.

The city engineer explained that the streets east of State Street were built as a chip‑seal construction — a tar‑and‑stone wearing surface over a relatively thin aggregate base — and therefore lack the 10–12 inches of stone and 4 inches of hot‑mix asphalt that engineers typically require for a durable asphalt roadway. “A thin layer of asphalt over the top will not hold up,” the city engineer said, adding that an overlay would begin cracking in a few years because the underlying stone is insufficient to support the asphalt.

Residents said excessive loose stone and, in some cases, glass and other debris left after the contractor’s work created safety concerns for motorists, bicyclists and motorcyclists. “There was a lot of loose stone that was just hanging around,” said Dr. Julia Thompson of 211 Huntington Drive, asking for better signage and quicker clean‑up after chip‑seal operations. Another resident, identifying himself as Mr. Cox, said he had photographic evidence that a resurfacing took place in a prior year and pressed staff for a simpler, less intrusive solution.

City staff and the street superintendent, Tyson (Street Commissioner), answered technical and process questions. Staff described two repair approaches: 1) targeted edge milling and placement of a thicker asphalt base followed by an overlay (which requires adequate stone base and curbs/driveway adjustments), and 2) full‑depth reclamation (rototilling and stabilizing the underlying material), which is more extensive and costly. The engineer said full reconstruction would entail raising driveways and mailboxes and could require two months of work for the neighborhood; a simple overlay would not meet the department’s durability standards.

Staff said the recent chip‑seal application by the contractor (identified in the meeting as “M and M Asphalt”) did not properly cure because of timing and excess stone application. The contractor has not yet been paid, and city staff said M and M has agreed to reapply the chip seal in July when temperatures are higher and the emulsion will cure properly. The city will also run additional sweeping and cleanup in spring and will post “loose stone” warning signs at neighborhood entrances before work.

Tyson and the city engineer told the council that the city had not budgeted for a full reconstruction of Huntington Drive in 2025 and that higher‑priority projects (sanitary sewer, stormwater and other streets that meet grant criteria) currently take precedence in the annual pavement program. The city engineer reiterated that if council directs a pavement reconstruction immediately, staff will do it, but it would require funding and additional utility work to avoid repaving a road that will later be excavated.

Residents asked that the city increase communication about timing and cleanup. Staff agreed to place advance signage, sweep the street again in spring, and confirm the contractor’s July schedule. If residents remain dissatisfied after the July rework and subsequent sweeping, staff asked that they notify their council representative or email the city so the issue can be escalated without repeated appearances at council.

The discussion took place during the public‑concerns portion of the meeting and did not include a council motion or vote to fund a pavement reconstruction for Huntington Drive.