Thursday, September 12, 2013

I-5 OFF-RAMPS AT FOURTH PLAIN CLOSED THURSDAY NIGHT DUE TO VANCOUVER MICROSURFACING

The Following Information shared from the City of Vancouver 

News Release from City of Vancouver

Loretta Callahan, City of Vancouver Public Works communications, 360-487-8255 (Vancouver)
Abbi Russell, Washington State Department of Transportation communications, 360-905-2058 (Vancouver)


Interstate 5 off-ramps to East Fourth Plain Boulevard will close between 10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, and 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 13, to allow City of Vancouver contractors to microsurface the east-west arterial in that area.

The microsurfacing of Fourth Plain Boulevard, from Main Street to Fort Vancouver Way, is part of the City of Vancouver's 2013 Pavement Management Program. In addition to the night ramp closures, drivers should expect delays and possible lane closures on Fourth Plain between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, and again between about 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday. Where possible, drivers are encouraged to take an alternative route to avoid the construction zone. Valley Slurry Seal, or VSS International, is the City's contractor for the microsurfacing.

Each year, the City of Vancouver evaluates approximately 290 miles of paved city streets and identifies areas where surface treatments could go the farthest in extending the life of the street and providing residents with better driving conditions. Beyond the standard asphalt overlay, the most expensive resurfacing method, there are a variety of surface treatments used to maximize the number of streets maintained with the available resources.

Microsurfacing uses a liquid polymer blended with liquid asphalt and small aggregate to seal the street's existing asphalt from oxygen and ultraviolet light damage. It also fills in minor rutting and surface depressions and provides durability in high traffic areas. Due to the addition of the polymer, microsurfacing sets up very fast, allowing traffic back on the surface in as little as an hour, weather conditions permitting. The actual curing process, however, takes several weeks. With time, wavy or rough aspects smooth out, and after a winter, it can be difficult to differentiate an asphalt paved street from one that has been microsurfaced.

More information about the City of Vancouver's 2013 paving, microsurfacing and sealing work is available at www.cityofvancouver.us/pavement. Construction updates are also being posted on the Vancouver Public Works Facebook at www.facebook.com/VancouverPublicWorks.

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