Avoid construction zones, if possible

Boulder County, Colo. - Boulder
County’s Transportation Maintenance Division will begin annual chip seal work
on county roadways on Monday, June 5. The work will take place from approximately
7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and is expected to last three
weeks, weather permitting.

Chip
sealing work consists of applying asphalt to a road surface followed by a layer
of one-quarter inch chips that essentially create a new layer on top of the
road. A week after the chips are applied, crews return to the area to apply a
sealant designed to help the chips adhere to the road. Finally, the sealant is
followed by roadway striping operations.

To
aid in cycling safety and to help create a smoother ride, Boulder County uses a
smaller chip size than is typically applied on other roads around the area that
are not maintained by the county. The smaller chip creates a smoother surface
and reduces wear and tear on bicycles.

Boulder
County Transportation encourages motorists and cyclists to avoid unnecessary
travel on the listed roads on days that the chip application and sealing operations
are taking place, as there may be travel delays. The roads to be chip sealed include
(in chronological order):

• Red Gulch Road
• Old St. Vrain
  Road
• Antelope Road
• Blue Mountain
  Road
• 3rd
  Street
• 57th
  Street south of Jay Road
• Independence
  Road
• Baseline Road
  between Cherryvale Road and Lafayette city limits
• Cherryvale Road
  between SH 170/Marshall Drive and Baseline Road
• Nelson Road

Chip
sealing operations are part of the county’s primary network roadway
rehabilitation plan. The process is intended to extend the lifespan of the
roadway and postpone larger reconstruction efforts that would require more
expensive work and longer travel restrictions. Primary network county roads are
typically chip sealed every six to eight years.

While
Boulder County Transportation Maintenance strives to complete all projects
on-time, work is weather dependent and there may be delays due to rain or other
unfavorable working conditions.

For
more information on the work, contact Andrew Barth, at abarth@bouldercounty.org or
303-441-1032.