BACKGROUND INFORMATION: We are often asked this question and want to be able to reply. Chip sealing is a low-cost way to prolong the life of a road’s pavement. The cost of overlaying a mile of asphalt road is about $100,000.00. We
Attempt to have the overlay to last 20 years or more. To get the life cycle out of the roadway, we must seal it (much like how homeowners seal their driveways), and the most cost-effective option is to use Chip Sealing. The Chip Seal can last seven years on average, depending on the form and volume of daily traffic. Annually, the state of potential applicant roads is assessed, and if warranted, they are added to the Chip Seal program.
This fact sheet is intended to remind Warwick Township residents about what Chip Seal is and why we need it to protect our road system.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHIP SEAL AND ASPHALT OVERLAYS?
The distinction is in the process of construction. a spicy concoction Heating molten asphalt and mixing it with concrete creates asphalt pavement, which is then stretched and compacted to form a long-lasting road structure and riding surface. Chip Sealing uses the same materials as asphalt paving, but it’s designed in a different way. Chip seals involve spraying a thin layer of hot asphalt liquid onto the road surface, accompanied by the placing of small aggregates (chips). After that, the chips are compacted to ensure optimum adhesion to the concrete, and any excess stone is washed away. The materials in hot mix asphalt and chip seals are the same; the only difference being the construction process.
Is it safe for me to drive on a freshly chip-sealed road? You will drive on a Chip Seal immediately after it has been added. However, within the first few hours after the Chip Seal is mounted, it is critical to drive carefully to prevent abrupt braking. As a result, the aggregate chips cling closely to the emulsifying binder.
Does Chip Seal have a different appearance and sound than asphalt? Yes, really. The Chip Seal, as you can see in the picture, has larger rock pieces than asphalt. This indicates that the surface is rougher. On hot days, the aggregate chips will work their way further into the underlying asphalt, reducing the road’s roughness.
Why aren’t we using asphalt instead of chip seal? To stretch scarce funds and emphasis on pavement preservation, Warwick Township has opted to use seal coats.
Chip Seals are much less expensive than asphalt ($1.00 per square yard vs. $7.00 per square yard for asphalt). Chip seals are more effective on well-maintained pavement. This is why each street’s foundation is repaired and asphalted before the Chip Seal is added.
What are the benefits of Chip Seals?
- Chips Seals make it possible to build a large number of roads at a cheaper cost.Chip Seals save money in the long run because they prolong the period between asphalt overlays.
- Chip Seals take the place of crack seals.
- Chip Seals improve protection by increasing skid resistance.
- Chip Seals avoid erosion of the asphalt surface from the effects of corrosion and decay due to water and heat by providing an adequate moisture buffer for the underlying pavement by
- covering gaps in the pavement.
- Chip Seals are only seen on roads with less than 2,500 cars a day.
- Chip Seals aid in the prevention of black ice.
- Chip Seals re-seals fractures by flowing back together in hot weather.
