Why is the City Putting Down Such Poor Quality Asphalt? – Ask the City

Your Question:

Why is the city putting down such [expletive deleted] asphalt? It's rough and it easily flies onto our vehicles when we drive over it, causing damage! These poorly paved roads will quickly create pot holes once the snow falls. Why not put down something that's going to work for long term?

The City's Response:

Slurry seal is a surface treatment that is expected to last 5 to 8 years, depending on traffic.   The mixture is a modified emulsified asphalt and rock less than 3/8 inch in size.  The asphalt is modified to provide better adhesion through the use of polymers.  The slurry seal is intended to place a water seal over dry pavement surface and fill small cracks in the street.  It is a little rough so that it can provide some surface roughness to prevent hydroplaning when wet and to provide some traction when there is a thin lay of ice on the road.  There is some rock that comes loose in the first few days which is being swept up as the sweepers have time.  The rock is small and should not cause any vehicle damage at the 30 MPH speed limit in Laramie.  Thus far, we have not noticed any location where the snow or the snow plows have caused a failure in the slurry seal which leads to pot holes.

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