Some of Erie’s newer streets are getting a protective treatment designed to help pavement last longer and reduce the need for costly repaving.
The City of Erie has contracted with Lakewood, Ohio-based Pavement Technology Inc. to apply what the company calls “Maltene Replacement Technology” to 27 blocks throughout the city.
The liquid treatment is sprayed onto asphalt and allowed to soak into the pavement, where it replenishes oils that naturally deteriorate over time. According to city officials and the contractor, the process helps keep water from penetrating the roadway and significantly extends the life of the asphalt.
After the treatment is applied, crews spread a layer of sand over the roadway to absorb any excess liquid. The sand remains in place overnight before being vacuumed up the following day.
Jeff Gibbens, Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Erie, said the treatment is being applied at the ideal point in a street’s life.
“Most of these roads are two to three years old, so that’s the prime time to treat them with this. So, we have a contract for 40,000 square yards — 27 blocks, 27 streets in the City of Erie,” Gibbens said.
Thomas Donegan, a supervisor with Pavement Technology Inc., said the treatment restores chemicals that are lost over time.
“Basically, what it does is it puts the chemicals back in the road that leach out over time and that are burned-out when they transport it. It keeps the water out of the road and just extends the life average of about five to 10 years,” Donegan said.
The City of Erie is paying $50,000 for the preventive maintenance project, which covers approximately 40,000 square yards of pavement across 27 city blocks.
Officials expect the work to be completed within the next couple of days. By treating streets before they begin to deteriorate, the city hopes to extend the life of the pavement by five to 10 years, reducing future maintenance costs and delaying the need for full reconstruction.