What's happening now?
This preventative maintenance project will take place in summer or fall 2020. The work schedule is weather dependent. We anticipate the road work will be complete in one or two days. PBOT is currently installing and upgrading ADA curb ramps on N Michigan in the project area in conjunction with this microsurfacing project.
What to expect during construction
The microsurfacing application process is quite quick. The equipment will move down the road at the pace of a quick walk. To protect the new surfacing, traffic must be kept off the street for about an hour while the product cures. Pedestrian crossings will be closed for less than 20 minutes after application.
Parking will not be allowed on the day the work is performed. Advance notice will be provided to allow time to remove vehicles prior to the work. The road will be opened for traffic and parking about an hour after the surface is applied.
Project background
PBOT maintains a pavement management system which evaluates pavement condition across the city and recommends treatment in order to make the best use of limited funds.
Typical preventive maintenance practices are easier to apply, quicker to open back up for traffic, and cause less interruption of normal road use. Applying preventive maintenance and preservation practices extends the effectiveness of our limited road funding.
This year, N Michigan Ave from N Fremont St to N Rosa Parks Way will receive preventive maintenance. The segments in this reach fall into the fair and good categories. The road does not require reconstruction, except for isolated spots where base repair will be required prior to surface treatment. In these conditions, we apply a surface seal, microsurfacing in this case, to refresh the asphalt and to prevent water from seeping through the asphalt where it undermines the road.
About ADA ramp upgrades
Installation and upgrade of ADA ramps is mandated by the US Departments of Justice and Transportation when streets, roads, or highways are altered through resurfacing. Microsurfacing is one of the treatments that triggers ADA ramps installation and upgrade.
Project funding
Funding for this comes from House Bill 2017 state transportation funds.