Public Works reports progress on downtown slurry-seal work; completion date depends on weather

The Brookings City Council received an update from Public Works Director John Thompson on the city's downtown slurry-seal project, which began earlier in the week and has been progressing with intermittent operational issues and weather-dependent timing.

Thompson said crews began work at about 3 a.m. on Monday, encountered initial calibration issues that limited early progress, and resumed early-morning work with operators putting in long shifts. "Sean Doremus is our lead on that, and he's had a couple nice 16 hour days," Thompson said, describing the crew's efforts. He said the slurry seal was "breaking about 15 minutes after it was laid," and that vehicles could typically drive on the surface within 20 to 25 minutes after placement, limiting traffic impacts.

Thompson said the contractor's map is available through Brookings Construction Community Construction for residents wanting details of the work and that pending afternoon rain could slow work. "If the rain holds off, we could possibly be done by this Friday afternoon, Saturday. But I'm thinking there's probably gonna be some time next week," he said.

Mayor Kei Garrett Niemeyer and council members had no further action on the update; the discussion was informational. The slurry work applies to downtown streets and has produced a small number of public complaints about why certain residential streets were not yet addressed, Thompson said. He asked for patience and noted weather and machine calibration affected the pace early in the week.

Ending: Public Works will continue slurry-seal operations as weather allows; the city posted route maps for residents and expects to finish as soon as conditions permit, with work potentially extending into the following week.