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Street Repair Update During the June 21 meeting, the council will discuss the 2010 Residential Resurfacing Slurry Seal Project, which involves a significant number of deteriorating city streets. The issue is Item 11 on the council agenda, which can be found at http://dms.cityofmissionviejo.org/sirepub/pubmtgframe.aspx?meetid=1543&doctype=agenda The action recommended by the city staff is to “approve the bid specifications and authorize staff to advertise for construction bids for the 2010 Residential Slurry Seal Project.” The estimated cost is $425,000. Some of the residents who surveyed street conditions believe the city’s current proposal to slurry-seal a large portion of damaged streets is inadequate. The list of streets that will receive a slurry seal begins on page 69 of one of the supporting documents for Item 11: At least 20 streets on the list were surveyed by residents and judged to be in need of a serious level of repair, which would be an asphalt overlay. Many streets in this category of the residents’ survey are in fair to poor condition. Specific damage includes areas of “alligatoring” and horizontal cracks that extend the entire width of the street. Several of the streets that will receive only a slurry coat have cracks in front of virtually every house. Damage beneath a slurry coat can quickly resurface, offsetting any temporary cosmetic benefit. Some streets in areas treated last year with only a slurry seal are already cracking. One of the watchdogs commented about the ineffective treatment: “When damage is covered up with a slurry coat, the repair is superficial. Depending on the quality and thickness of the slurry, it can have the same effect as putting a coat of black paint over the damage.” Nearly 80 percent of the damaged streets on the watchdogs’ list were outside the areas to be treated this year. The choice was deliberate to avoid listing streets that would soon be treated. The presumption was that damage would be adequately repaired instead of covered up. |
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