Potter Co. surface treatments to continue
CLEARFIELD — The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) surface treatment operations, more commonly known as “tar and chip,” will result in delays on several roads in Potter County next week.
This maintenance treatment seals the road surface to keep water out, restores the surface friction, enhances traction, and extends the pavement life between resurfacings.
Weather permitting, PennDOT Potter County Maintenance crews plan to complete these operations on the following roads the week of Aug. 25:
- All of Route 1005 (Phoenix Road) in Hector and Pike townships.
- All of Route 1011 (Hickox-Ulysses/West Bingham Road) in Ulysses Borough, Bingham, and Genesee townships.
- All of Route 1013 (Bingham Center Road) in Bingham Township.
- All of Route 1015 (Collins Hill Road) in Bingham Township.
- All of Route 1016 (North Fork Road) in Harrison Township.
- All of Route 1017 (Pleasant Valley Road) in Harrison Township.
- All of Route 1019 (White’s Corners Road/Second Street) in Harrison Township.
Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours, which PennDOT anticipates will cause significant delays. The department urges drivers to reduce their speed on roads that have received this treatment during the curing period or to consider alternate routes.
PennDOT typically employs surface treatments as a preservation strategy on roads with low traffic volumes and speed limits of 35 mph or slower. This activity extends the life of those roads by keeping water out, which mitigates the damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle of Pennsylvania winters and delays the formation of potholes and the oxidization process.
In recent years, PennDOT District 2 has expanded its use of seal coating to roadways with higher traffic volumes and speed limits of 55 mph or faster as it strives to effectively manage and preserve its assets while being a good steward of taxpayer money.
PennDOT performs this activity in temperatures above 60 degrees, typically between April and September. Crews begin by sweeping the roadway clean of debris. Next, they apply emulsion oil and a layer of stone, which they then roll into place using a roller. Once cured, crews sweep any loose material from the roadway.
For more information on PennDOT’s maintenance activities, visit PennDOT.pa.gov/about-us/maintenanceactivities.
