Spanish Wells Street Restoration Project
The sealcoating process is now substantially complete and the SWCA Board would like to thank everyone for their understanding and cooperation during this complex but important project. There will be some minor repairs and pressure washing occurring over the next couple of weeks and if seal coat overspray has gotten on your driveway you are probably on the list for some cleanup.
There is a possibility that a small amount of the sealcoat may have overlapped onto the edge of your lawn. It will not harm your lawn. As the grass grows out and is cut, the sealcoat will disappear.
Sealcoat takes about 30 days to fully cure and can be easily damaged by large trucks and heavy equipment like bobcats and front end loaders. We are asking all residents to delay, if possible, any projects that could potentially damage the sealcoat, until August. If damage to the roads is due to gross negligence residents could be asked to pay for repairs.
There were four (4) steps involved in sealcoating:
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Specific streets had small sections of asphalt replaced due to existing damage.
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The curbs around the islands were painted.
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Cleaning the street surface was first, then manually squeegee on the sealcoat over the full width of the street at one time, letting it dry in the AM and then spraying on another coat in the afternoon to dry overnight. This took around 24-36 hours for each section, which means the street was closed to traffic. (Times were revised to 5pm)
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New center lines were painted, and lane reflective warning indicators were applied on curves.
Spanish Wells Streets Project Overview
Almost all of the streets in Spanish Wells are well over 10 years old. Over time, the sun, traffic, weather and chemicals have deteriorated the condition of our streets.
Many of the streets in Spanish Wells are slowly deteriorating. Cracks of various sizes are now visible in our streets. If something is not done, the cracks will enlarge, resulting in repaving at huge cost to the community.
There are two options available to us today. One, start replacing the streets or two, sealcoat the streets. The cost to replace the streets is in the millions of dollars! Sealcoating will delay the inevitable.
The center lines and warning indicators are in need of replacement! Driving is dangerous anytime, but especially at night if a center line is not visible.. There are several curves in Spanish Wells where the center line has disappeared.
Yellow no parking indicators will be added to the street islands, in order to ensure sufficient space fort vehicles to pass.
Why Sealcoating?
Slows down oxidization.
Oxidization is a natural process caused by the sun’s rays that can dry out asphalt, leaving our streets brittle and much more susceptible to cracks and damage. If that wasn’t enough, oxidization has also turned our streets into a worn-out grey color that you want to avoid at all costs! (Property Values)
Prevents water from entering cracks.
Sealcoating fills in any newly emerging or larger cracks in our asphalt streets, preventing water from entering these and wreaking havoc from below the surface.
Protects our streets from fuel spillages.
The similar chemical make-up of asphalt and gasoline ultimately means that fuel spillages can soften and weaken our streets. Sealcoating forms a protective barrier to prevent fuel from binding with the asphalt surface.
Prevents the asphalt from cracking under pressure.
One of the greatest features of asphalt is its flexible nature. When vehicles drive over an asphalt street, the surface will bend slightly to accommodate the weight without cracking. Unfortunately, pavement that is not regularly sealcoated and has become brittle due to oxidization will not retain this useful property, again leaving the street more open to damage.
Fresh Appearance. When asphalt is first laid, it has a deep black color that looks fresh and new. Over time, exposure to UV rays, water and oil can cause the asphalt to fade, dry out, crack, and crumble.
Sealcoating restores that rich, glossy black color to the pavement, improving the overall look of your property and potentially increasing its value.
Defers the cost to Replace the Streets!