Township outlines 2026 paving plan, approves contracts for rejuvenation and crack sealing

Mike Huxel, the township’s service lead, told trustees on March 24 that West Chester’s road network currently scores about 64 on Federal Highway Administration standards and that reduced bid prices let the township expand 2026 resurfacing from an estimated 5.9 miles to about 6.2 miles.

Huxel described a preventive approach that pairs resurfacing with lower‑cost treatments aimed at slowing decline. “That process alone can add 5 to 7 years to a pavement,” Huxel said of pavement rejuvenation. He said the township plans to use crack sealing (in‑house and contracted) and pavement rejuvenation applied behind pavers or on streets paved within the last three years to protect base asphalt and avoid costly reconstructions later.

Trustees asked about the pink appearance of the rejuvenation coating and resident communications; Huxel answered that the surface is briefly pink for a couple minutes and that the contractor and the township public information team will notify affected residents in advance. Huxel said the township intends to start curb replacement in early April and begin neighborhood paving in June after school is out.

The board approved requisitions that fund the pavement rejuvenation and crack‑sealing work: $112,937 to Pavement Technology Incorporated for rejuvenation and $95,756.69 to Strawser Construction Incorporated for crack sealing, as part of the requisition package taken up that evening.