Slurry Seal Application

Each year the City of Santa Rosa slurry seals the pavement of about 2.5 million square feet of City streets. The streets to be slurry sealed are selected based on the condition of the pavement identified by the City's Pavement Management Program and are grouped into neighborhoods for efficient application. Over the years, streets have been slurry sealed in many neighborhoods throughout Santa Rosa, view slurry seal application map through the years.

This year, the 2023 Slurry Seal pavement treatment will be applied this summer in conjunction with the Pavement Preventive Maintenance program on arterial streets. Pavement treatments and restriping are expected to take place summer 2023. View project area maps. A daily schedule map will be available closer to the start of the project.

Preventative

Slurry seal is a preventive maintenance which involves applying an emulsified asphalt mixture spread over the existing street surface. It helps protect streets from water penetration, provides a new surface with improved skid-resistance, and extends the life of the roadway. Slurry seal is part of the City's ongoing pavement maintenance program to help seal cracks and preserve the pavement of our streets.

Extending Pavement Life

You might ask, "Why does a street with a fairly intact surface get slurry sealed instead of a street in a more deteriorated condition?" Slurry seal is a surface treatment that is meant to extend the life of pavement and needs to be applied to a street before it begins to fail with potholes and broken surfaces. Slurry seal is a cost effective way to keep a good street in good shape for a longer period of time. Streets that are in a more deteriorated condition are treated with an asphalt overlay or are reconstructed.  

Preparation

Three days prior to the slurry seal application, City personnel will knock on the door of each affected residence and distribute a flyer with information about temporary restrictions to on-street parking and driving on the newly sealed roadway. If you are not home when City personnel come to your home, they will leave the informational flyer at your door.

During Slurry Application

City personnel will be on-hand to help with traffic control and address questions or concerns from residents during the time the slurry seal is being applied. These City personnel will be able to tell you the order in which your street will be completed and have maps to show you where you can park your car outside of the project area.

Safety Reminder

It is vital for everyone's safety that you do not drive, walk (including your pets) or bicycle on the wet slurry. Please stay off the street until it has been determined by City personnel that the streets are safe to drive on and have opened the streets to traffic. Remember that during the application process, the street is closed and there will be City and contractor personnel working in the street-any unexpected traffic is very dangerous and puts their safety at risk.

Post Application

In the weeks following the application of the slurry seal, you will see City personnel installing new street markings on the street surface. This final portion of the project will require some traffic control but the streets will remain open to traffic.