Sealing Cracks, Filling Gaps in Roads and Budgets

摘要

Filling and sealing cracks in asphalt pavement is an ever-present and sizeable task for most public works agencies. But with budgets even tighter now, extending the life of cracked road surfaces has never been more necessary. Depending on a road's condition, filling its cracks can add 3 to 5 years, or even more, to the life of an asphalt pavement. Crack sealing reduces moisture penetration into the underlying base and sub-base layers of a road. In turn, that prevents the freeze-thaw heave that can widen cracks and speed up deterioration. "We crack seal our roads, then spread a chip seal," says Tony Chavez, a maintenance official with the city of Auburn, Wash., which has a population of about 40,000.