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Missoula begins annual chip seal program

Posted at 12:41 PM, Jul 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-24 14:41:09-04

MISSOULA – City crews have started up their annual chip seal program in Missoula.Street Division workers are applying oil and chips to city streets between July 23rd and July 26th, July 30th and August 2nd, August 6th and August 9th and from August 13th to August 17th.Missoula annually seals the surface of about 100 blocks of its streets using the chip seal method but this year will try to get the work done on 178 blocks.City officials say the oil and chip seals the asphalt surface from weather erosion and extends the life of the pavement in the same way as painting a home. Sealing streets delays reconstruction reduces the number of potholes and saves dollars and disruption for Missoula’s residents.The City began the annual program in 1987 and has sealed a majority of the eligible streets and has started the next phase of street preservation by returning to many of the streets sealed and protected early in the program.Drivers and cyclists will see loose chip rock left on the streets for two to three weeks when street sweepers will clean up the chips. Motorcyclists and bicyclists should go slowly during this period to avoid sliding.Street Division crews will place barricades on streets with on-street parking in advance of the chip seal operation.