With consistently warm temperatures here to stay across the commonwealth, VDOT prime paving season in now underway, which will include resurfacing nearly 9,000 lane miles of roadways for smoother, safer travel. VDOT’s 2018 investment in paving is approximately $508 million.
New for this year, VDOT now offers coverage of tracking paving progress statewide, which allows community members and stakeholders to view specific locations slated for paving and individual details of each project.
Paving season typically extends from April to November, when temperatures are most conducive to proper resurfacing and pavement marking application, which requires dry conditions and temperatures consistently above 50 degrees.
“The new map will be updated weekly to detail exactly where paving projects are planned, ongoing and show how they’re progressing,” said Branco Vlacich, state maintenance division administrator. “These new details will give residents and travelers a tool to use to best plan for travel and stay safe near these work zones.”
While most work will take place outside of rush hour timeframes, travelers are encouraged to check www.511virginia.gov for the latest information.
A majority of the roads slated for resurfacing will receive patching followed by one of five treatments:
- Modified surface treatment – Heated liquid asphalt and gravel covered in a fine grade of stone to reduce the likelihood of pieces of gravel from getting thrown from under car tires. Residents can typically use the road soon after the last application of gravel is applied.
- Multi-layer (or cape seal) – Involves spraying a thin film of heated liquid asphalt on the road surface followed by a layer of fine gravel. The gravel is compacted so it adheres to the asphalt. It takes one to two weeks for any loose gravel to work its way into the pavement. After the new road surface has cured, excess gravel is swept away and a slurry seal is applied. Drivers can use the road soon after the gravel has been applied for the first layer of treatment. Once the slurry seal layer is in place, the road will need several hours to harden.
- Slurry seal – A type of pavement sealant that consists of liquid asphalt, cement, lime, fine aggregates and water. It is applied as a thin layer over the existing surface. In order to give the new surface time to harden, drivers are shifted to other travel lanes or encouraged to use an alternate route for several hours.
- Latex modified – This material is similar to slurry seal, although it is more durable and typically used on higher volume routes.
- Plant mix (asphalt/blacktop) – This treatment is applied as a hot material in layers and compacted. Drivers are shifted to other travel lanes or use an alternate route for several hours while the surface cools.
Details about new statewide paving progress map
Beginning this year, residents and drivers can get specific information about the status of paving projects at the Virginia Roads Paving Map 2018. The online map shows the current progress of the paving program, including:
Road segments scheduled to be paved this year
Whether roads scheduled for paving (red) are in progress (green), completed (blue), or rescheduled (black)
By clicking on a specific road segment, map users can view details on the specific type of pavement treatment, expected completion date, contractor, and construction manager’s contact information
The map will be updated weekly as roads are completed.
The Virginia Department of Transportation maintains over 128,000 lane miles throughout the commonwealth.
Get more information on paving and surface treatments as well as current pavement conditions at www.virginiaroads.org.
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Chris Graham
