The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has provided an update on the progress of surface treatment operations, commonly referred to as “oil and chip,” on several roads in Juniata County. This maintenance work aims to seal the road surface, improve traction, and extend pavement life between resurfacings.
Traffic control will be managed by flaggers during daylight hours on the following roadways: Route 1003 (Tennis Park Road), Route 1004 (Shade Road), and Route 1005 (Leonard Hill Road) are scheduled for Monday, June 2. Work on Route 235 between Route 35 and the Juniata-Snyder County line is planned for Tuesday, June 3, and Wednesday, June 4. Additionally, Route 2017 between Route 2018 (Swartz Valley Road) and the Juniata-Snyder County line will undergo treatment from Wednesday, June 4, through Friday, June 6. The entirety of Route 2016 (Church Street) in Monroe Township is also included in this schedule.
PennDOT initially announced some of this work for the week of May 26; however, weather conditions delayed progress. Surface treatments are typically used as a preservation strategy on roads with low traffic volumes and speed limits of up to 35 mph. This method helps extend road life by preventing water damage caused by Pennsylvania’s freeze-thaw cycle and delaying pothole formation.
In recent years, PennDOT District 2 has expanded seal coating to include roads with higher traffic volumes and speed limits of up to 55 mph or faster. This approach aims to manage assets effectively while being mindful of taxpayer money.
The process involves cleaning the roadway of debris before applying emulsion oil and a layer of stone that is rolled into place. After curing, crews sweep away any loose material. It generally takes about two days for stones to bond with hardened asphalt.
Drivers are advised to reduce their speed on treated roads during the two-day curing period or consider alternate routes. For more information on PennDOT’s maintenance activities or current road conditions, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/about-us/maintenanceactivities or www.511PA.com.
Information from this article can be found here.
