DOWNEY - Nearly seven miles of residential streets in southwest Downey will be repaired after approval from the City Council this week.Instead of repairing the streets using an asphalt overlay or reconstruction, the city will utilize a cheaper method known as slurry seal. Slurry seal preserves asphalt pavement by sealing cracks and applying a ¼-inch thick slurry seal coat, deferring more extensive and costly rehabilitation methods. Crews will also replace traffic striping, pavement markings and complete other road work. The city has already used slurry seal in the eastern parts of the city. The northwestern quadrant of Downey will receive the slurry seal restoration next year. The project approved Tuesday calls for slurry seal to be applied to 40 residential street segments and one arterial street. Streets were selected by a city mapping system that evaluates, ranks and prioritizes each street segment based on pavement surface conditions and other criteria. The project is expected to cost up to $300,000.

********** Published: August 30, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 20