City of Sequim staff report chip sealing projects began Tuesday, July 24, and tentatively finish Saturday, July 28.

Sierra Santa Fe Corporation of Ridgefield will work in three areas:

• Northeast Sequim between East Fir Street and East Washington Street, and North Brown Road and North Sunnyside Avenue.

• East Silberhorn Road near its intersection with Quiet Place eastward to South Seventh Avenue, and northward on South Seventh Avenue to McCurdy Road by US Highway 101.

• South River Road from US Highway 101 to Lorraine Drive.

Sequim City Engineer Matt Klontz said South Seventh Avenue’s portion has a Pavement Condition Index, a quality algorithm used by engineers for roads, of 26 out of 100, one of the lowest in the city.

Construction runs 7 a.m.-8 p.m. and drivers can expect temporary roadway closures, lane closures and pilot cars. The road will remain open to residents living adjacent to the project work zone.

City staff said chip Seal work consists of street cleaning, asphalt oil application, a thin layer of aggregate, rolling, more sweeping and a “fog seal” coat of asphalt oil which results in a refurbished street with an extended life of seven-10 years.

This roadwork is less expensive than full structural roadway rehabilitation, city staff said.

They advise that roads are typically drivable within 24 hours of being chip sealed but drivers should refrain from sudden starts or stops, or speeding, within the first two weeks to allow the chip seal to set properly.

The city’s Transportation Benefit District funded the projects with Sierra Santa Fe Corporation for $270,674 plus a 10 percent contingency to chip seal about 40,000 square yards of selected city streets.

Sequim city councilors unanimously approved the contract, which was the lowest of three bids, on May 26.

For more information on the project, contact the City of Sequim Public Works Department at (360) 683-4908.