EVERETT, Wash., May 20, 2023 – All roads incur wear and tear and damage over the years. Winter weather, summer heat, heavy traffic, and the natural breakdown over time cause roads to need some repair. Snohomish County plans out the maintenance and preservation of its more than 1,600 miles of roads to maintain a safe and smooth ride for drivers. This year, Snohomish County Public Works is improving 59 miles of county roads through its annual road resurfacing programs.

“The county has developed a multi-year plan to preserve and maintain county roads in the most cost-effective way possible,” Snohomish County Engineer and Public Works Deputy Director Doug McCormick said. “This year, we will pave approximately 4.6 miles of road with asphalt through our Paving Program and pre-level and/or chip seal approximately 55 miles of road as part of our Chip Seal Program. This work saves tax dollars and keeps people and goods moving.”

As part of the pre-level work, crews will patch potholes and improve uneven or failing pavement sections, repair subgrade and drainage issues, and trim vegetation prior to completing the chip seal work. Chip sealing extends the life of the road surface for an additional seven to 10 years, saving the county money as the cost is about one-third of asphalt overlay.

Paving Program

This year’s paving work will take place between May and October. Where applicable, sidewalk ramps will be upgraded to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The Paving Program focuses on preserving pavement before it fails by milling and/or repairing pavement as needed and placing a new layer of asphalt on top. A typical paved road has a serviceable life of 15-30 years depending upon location, traffic volumes, weather, and truck or heavy vehicle usage. The work will be completed by paving contractors and county crews.

Chip Seal Program

Pre-leveling work began in April. Chip sealing work will begin in July and is expected to be completed by late September. A temporary speed limit of 20 miles per hour will be in effect for the week following the chip seal placement. Adherence to this temporary speed limit will minimize the likelihood of loose, flying chips causing damage to a vehicle’s body or windshield and allow the chips to bind to the asphalt. Crews will return approximately within a week to sweep up any loose chips and replace pavement striping. Both chip seal and paving are weather-dependent work.  All preliminary schedules are subject to change.

Work is scheduled for the following unincorporated areas of Snohomish County:

For more information about the Paving Program or Chip Seal Program and maps of the identified roads, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/resurfacing

About Snohomish County Public Works

Snohomish County Public Works is responsible for approximately 1,600 miles of county roads, more than 200 bridges and manages about 200 traffic control signals. The department also processes nearly 600,000 tons of garbage per year. Its mission is to focus on safety and mobility while practicing fiscal responsibility and Snohomish County Public Works preserving the environment. Public Works has won numerous state and national honors for its work and is the largest department within Snohomish County government with approximately 500 employees plus seasonal staff. Its main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201.

Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks or follow the department on Facebook and Twitter for more information about Snohomish County Public Works.