STREET MAINTENANCE PROCESS & FAQS: 

The City of Palm Springs Public Works Department conducts street maintenance throughout the City as part of its ongoing effort to maintain and upgrade City roadways. Over the years, a combination of desert heat, traffic, water infiltration and aging asphalt have contributed to roadway deterioration. Maintenance of city streets involves crackfilling and applying slurry seal to some streets. Slurry seal is used to seal the surface and preclude further pavement deterioration, but it is not meant to reduce pavement cracking as a more expensive asphalt overlay would. Maintenance for badly deteriorated streets involves cold milling and overlaying new asphalt concrete. For street condition ratings through out the City, see out Pavement Management page.

The work will be done by a contractor working for the City, and a Contract Inspector will monitor the contractor’s work. When the project is complete, roadway pavement life will be protected and extended. Roadway preparation is a necessity and all pavement cracks will be sprayed with weed killer, cleaned and filled with crackfill material or asphalt for nice even level for the slurry. The contractor will distribute a Notice of Construction to affected residents 72 hours before slurry seal work begins. Approximately 48 hours before work begins, the contractor will post No Parking/No Driving signs showing road closure dates. On the day of construction, the affected street will be closed to all traffic. Please note that existing parking restrictions will be enforced in the affected areas. Pavement maintenance activity in residential neighborhoods will generally take place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. (except at Airport locations). If necessary, weekend work on arterial streets will occur on an “as-needed” basis after 48 hour notification. New street surfaces will be ready for use several hours after application, and the City will work closely with the contractor to minimize inconvenience to motorists, residents, and businesses. However, delays due to temporary lane and street closures should be expected.

What you can do to help expedite and complete the project on time?

•KEEP children and pets away from the construction;

•ADHERE to the No Parking notice; 

•DO NOT run water onto the street the night before or during the application; 

•DO NOT drive on the Slurry Seal before it has properly cured to avoid damaging both the integrity of the surface and, in some cases, the vehicle's paint; and 

•AVOID turning the front tires on your vehicle while stopped, and starting or stopping quickly during the first few weeks after the application to avoid creating divots in the slurry sealed surfaces. Try to turn the wheels only while moving.

What is Slurry Seal?

Slurry Seal is preventive road maintenance. Water-resistant slurry surface treatments (or seals) are thin overlays which seal minor pavement cracks and oxidized pavements, restore surface texture and skid resistance, correct raveling, and reduce noise. It will not, however, improve the ride quality of a street. Slurry seal is used to extend the life of cracked pavement, but it is not meant to eliminate pavement cracking as a more expensive asphalt overlay would.

Application of Slurry Seal is a three-step process. First, the road surface is micromilled (1/4"-1/2") to for an even surface.  Secondly, surface cracks are filled and surface patching is done. Several days after the crack sealing and surface patching, the Slurry Seal is applied. Streets will be closed to both parking and driving during the application although limited driving will be allowed in case of emergency. Normal driving and parking will be allowed after the Contractor removes the No Parking signs at the end of the working day. Slurry Seal requires only a few hours to dry before traffic can drive over it but it takes 24 to 48 hours to cure completely. During the first few weeks after the slurry seal application, residents should avoid excessive steering of their vehicle while it is standing still, or starting or stopping quickly as this may cause tire tracks and scuff marks on the surface.

What are Cold Milling and Asphalt Overlay?

Cold Milling (also referred to as cold plane or grinding) is the controlled removal of the surface of the existing pavement to a pre-determined depth with specially designed milling equipment. Hot-mix asphalt, applied over the milled surface to the pre-existing elevation, providing an improved ride quality and extends pavement life.

The first step in this process is to "edge-mill" the build-up of existing asphalt along the gutters to allow a smooth transition of the new surface. Next, the remainder of the road is milled down 1 1/2 =" - 2", and finally, an asphalt overlay is placed on the top. During this phase, parking is prohibited and the street is closed or restricted to vehicular traffic. Once the asphalt is placed and compacted, the street is re-opened to traffic. Finalizing the work Once the slurry seal has cured, there is final inspection of all streets. Any issues are resolved and re-striping is completed on affected streets. When the asphalt overlay is completed, all manholes and valve box covers are raised to grade. Any final issues are resolved and previously affected streets are re-striped. 

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