Summer Ritual: County Crews Resurface Roads Under the Hot Sun
LOS GATOS, CALIF. – If you grew up watching the movie “Cars,” or have kids who did, you probably remember Bessie, “the finest road-paving machine ever built,” which Lightning McQueen used to repair the road he destroyed in Radiator Springs.
Well, the crews that resurface roads for the County of Santa Clara Roads and Airports Department would give old Bessie a run for her money.
Every summer, employees in the Road & Signal Operations Division resurface a portion of the 660 miles of unincorporated Santa Clara County roads and expressways, extending the lives of the roads and preparing them for the storms of winter.
They operate on a seven-year cycle. Crews visit every stretch of County-operated road within that span for resurfacing and maintenance. The County recently switched its rotation from 10 years to seven years to improve its maintenance program.
On a sunny morning in July, employees were on Black Road in the mountains above Lexington Reservoir, using a process known as chipseal.
A small convoy made its way up the hill, resurfacing the westbound lane. The first machine sprayed liquid asphalt onto the roadway to seal any cracks and act as an adhesive. A second machine followed close behind, applying a layer of small granite chips. A handful of workers evened out the aggregate with rakes, and then a couple rollers compressed and smoothed the new surface.
Later, once the resurfacing of Black Road was complete, crews would return to sweep up any loose chips and restripe the road.
“When winter comes around, we deal with emergency storm repairs and do our best to keep roads safe and open. Once the weather dries out in the spring, we repair potholes and other damage and get the roads ready for resurfacing.”Jeff Mendez Road Supervisor
The County uses the chipseal method primarily on rural mountain roads, where the relatively rough surface provides friction for motorists driving in rain or snow. Crews use a different process on residential roads called microsurfacing, which produces a smoother finish.
Warm, dry weather provides the best conditions for resurfacing roads. When fall arrives, crews start to prepare for the rainy season, cutting trees and mowing brush and making sure road shoulders and culverts are free of obstructions.
“A lot of what we do is seasonally driven,” said Jeff Mendes, Road Operations Superintendent at the division’s West Yard, which is responsible for the Santa Cruz Mountains. “When winter comes around, we deal with emergency storm repairs and do our best to keep roads safe and open. Once the weather dries out in the spring, we repair potholes and other damage and get the roads ready for resurfacing.”
You can help keep our road maintenance crews safe – along with other drivers and pedestrians – by slowing down and being careful when approaching work zones on our roadways, especially during stormy weather.
To report an issue with a County-operated roadway, from a pothole to a malfunctioning traffic signal, visit the Roads and Airports Department’s service request webpage. The page shows you how to submit service requests online or download the Mobile Citizen app to your smartphone.