Work on Sonoma streets begins this week

Segments of 18 Sonoma streets will be smoothed and sealed in two months of work — formally known as the 2016 Citywide Slurry Seal pavement restoration project — starting August 11.

According to The Department of Public Works, the timeline calls for: crack sealing will precede the Slurry Seal treatment on August 11th-12; removal of pavement markings will start the week of August 15; and the Slurry Seal treatment is expected to be performed on the 18 street segments within a two-day period the week of August 22.

All work should be completed by mid-September.

During the Slurry Seal treatment, specific streets will need to be closed for approximately 4 to 6 hours, depending upon air temperatures. During the treatment, specific streets will need to be closed for approximately 4 to 6 hours, depending upon air temperatures.

The $117,120.00 construction project was awarded to VSS International, Inc.

According to the DPW, Slurry Seal treatment is a cost effective way to preserve pavement by protecting the surface from the effects of natural aging and the environmental degradation caused by inclement weather, excessive heat and the searing effects of the sun.

A Slurry Seal treatment can extend the life of a street by five to eight years.

Many streets in the City of Sonoma have deteriorated beyond a stage where a Slurry Seal can be effectively applied. Those streets will require a more costly asphalt grinding and overlay treatment or a full street reconstruction.