Chip seal project aims to boost safety, longevity

Road crews have been hard at work this week applying a chip seal treatment to sections of Pony Express Parkway as part of Eagle Mountain City’s ongoing effort to maintain its major roadways and extend their useful life.

The treatment, expected to wrap up by the end of the week or early next week, is part of a $1.3 million project that also includes other roadways throughout the city. Though the surface may look a little rough right now, the treatment is intentional and effective, according to the City’s Streets department.

“A chip seal is a cost-effective way to prolong the life of our roads while improving safety,” said City spokesperson Tyler Maffitt. “It may not be the prettiest thing right when it goes down, but it does an excellent job sealing cracks, improving skid resistance and protecting the roadway from moisture damage that can lead to potholes and road failure.”

The need for chip seal on Pony Express Parkway was budgeted in the current fiscal year after oxidation, fatigue cracking and general distress from traffic and environmental conditions were found.

Larger cracks were sealed in a separate operation in May, and the chip seal now addresses smaller cracks while reinforcing the pavement’s integrity.

“When you start to see cracking and oxidation, that’s a sign the pavement is aging and weakening,” said Maffitt. “The chip seal seals those thin cracks, prevents further oxidation and helps keep water from getting down into the subgrade, where it can cause major issues like potholes or complete road failure.”

Beyond preventing water intrusion, the chip seal also restores skid resistance, a key safety feature for motorists.

The City has opted to use a light weight chip to prevent damage to vehicles and to limit chip loss during snow plow season. Over time, the surface of a road can become too smooth, especially as traffic polishes the aggregate material.

“Everyone likes a smooth road, but only to a point,” Maffitt explained. “You need a certain level of coarseness in the surface to maintain good stopping power. A smoother road, especially when wet or icy, can increase stopping distance and decrease safety. Chip seal reintroduces that texture.”

While the treatment is highly effective, it’s not without short-term inconvenience. Drivers may notice the road is rougher and darker at first, and some loose gravel may remain on the surface until the chips settle and the excess is swept away.

“We know the chip seal doesn’t look great right away, and it can be a little bumpy at first,” Maffitt said. “But it does mellow out over time, especially after a winter season with snowplows. It’s a proven method used across the country to extend the life of roads by many years.”

Maffitt thanked residents for their patience during the project and acknowledged the temporary impact on traffic flow.

“We understand this is a disruption, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding,” he said. “We’re working closely with our contractor to complete the work quickly and minimize delays.”

The chip seal application is part of a routine maintenance cycle. Eagle Mountain typically treats arterial roads like Pony Express Parkway every five years to stay ahead of major repairs.