Seal coat roadwork starting up in Manchester area

from Washtenaw County Road Commission

The Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) is announcing plans to invest $1.5 million to protect approximately 30 lane miles of pavement throughout Washtenaw County during the 2024 construction season with seal coat operations. The 2024 countywide seal coat program is funded through the current four-year countywide Roads and Non-Motorized Millage and the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF).

In the Manchester area the project includes Sharon Hollow Rd between Austin Rd and Pleasant Lake Rd, Pleasant Lake Rd between Sharon Hollow Rd and M-52, and Sharon Valley Rd between Sharon Hollow Rd and the county line and is projected to start June 4 and run through June 20. The majority of the work will be completed on Tuesday, June 4, and the remainder will be completed in the coming weeks. However, all dates are tentative and subject to change due to weather conditions. The roads will not be closed to traffic, but delays are likely. WCRC encourages motorists, emergency services, and others to use an alternate route.

WCRC’s annual seal coat program is a strategy to protect paved roads from the wear and tear of vehicles, sun damage, and Michigan’s freeze/thaw cycles, which produce cracks and lead to potholes. WCRC applies seal coat to paved roads that are in good or fair condition. “Seal coat isn’t just a protective layer for roads; it’s an investment in longevity. By safeguarding against deterioration, it saves from the hefty costs of frequent repairs and reconstructions. In essence, seal coat pays dividends in the form of extending the service life of roads in Washtenaw County,” said Kenneth Harris, Washtenaw County Road Commission, Superintendent of Maintenance.

Seal coat is made up of two parts, chip seal and fog seal. During chip seal, a thin layer of liquid asphalt is applied onto the road surface, followed immediately by the placement of small aggregate (stones). The stones are embedded into the liquid asphalt with rollers and any excess stones are swept off the roadway. A few weeks later, crews will return to place fog seal. During fog seal, another thin layer of liquid asphalt is applied to the chip-sealed surface. This process helps seal the stones onto the road surface. Later, permanent pavement markings will be placed on the sealed surface.

Seal coat roads are safe to drive on, but it is important that motorists follow the posted advisory speed — 35 mph — to avoid vehicle damage from both the liquid asphalt and any loose stones.

The liquid used for the fog seal may take up to a couple of hours to cure after application, so it is very important for vehicles to stay off the road during this time to prevent damage to the road and vehicles.

WCRC crews will be onsite directing traffic with flaggers, pilot vehicles, and/or other safety signage. It is critical for motorists to follow all instructions provided in the work zone during a seal-coat application to keep everyone safe and avoid vehicle damage.

Have questions about the program? Reach out to Kenneth Harris, Superintendent of Maintenance, at (734) 327-6696 or via email at harrisk@wcroads.org.

2024 county-wide seal coat program projects in the Manchester area.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.