Resurfacing Explained
In the drier months, crews from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) perform regular, preventative maintenance on our roads to make sure they last longer. For roads in “fair” or “good” condition, this only requires 1-2 days of work resurfacing the pavement. In spots where the road is in worse condition, we may do a full base repair first before resurfacing the whole street.
Resurfacing a street differs from repaving in that it is a form of sealing the existing pavement instead of replacing it. While the initial product may include some seams and uneven surfaces, over time these imperfections will wear down. Ultimately, this kind of treatment can extend the life of pavement by six to eight years.
By federal law, whenever we do this kind or resurfacing we also build new curb ramps or upgrade existing ones so they meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
This work is weather dependent. Crews will be by in spring and early summer first to build ADA-compliant curb ramps. This work typically takes several weeks per segment. Later, from mid-summer through early fall, crews will resurface the street using a combination of microsurfacing or slurry seal. This roadwork typically takes 1-2 days per street.
What's Happening This Season?
No work is planned in this program for 2025
What to Expect During Resurfacing
Timing
Microsurfacing and slurry seal are quick processes. Equipment goes at the pace of a quick walk. The road itself must be closed to traffic and parking during the application. With the exception of local traffic, the road will remain closed closed while the product cures or sets. Curing typically takes less than a day. Longer corridors may be done in sections and take several days to complete.
Parking
No on-street parking while we do this work. We’ll let everyone on your block know ahead of time so you can prepare. As soon as the road is clear for traffic, after the product has cured or set, we’ll open it back up for on-street parking as well.
Background and Funding
PBOT’s asset managers rank pavement conditions across the city and recommend the best repair for our budget. Preventative maintenance like microsurfacing helps keep our roads in good shape longer. The application is easy, quick, and causes minimal disruption. It saves us in the long run, too, avoiding more costly repairs.
By federal law, PBOT is required to bring curb ramps up to ADA standards whenever we resurface the road. Microsurfacing is one of the treatments that triggers this requirement.
Funding for microsurfacing projects comes from a combination of GTR Pavement Preservation funds as well as funds from Fixing Our Streets, the voter-approved 10-cent gas tax.