A cracked street surface. (File photo courtesy Alexander Nguyen)
The city of La Mesa started the most extensive slurry seal project in its history on Monday.
More than 3.47 million square feet of street surfaces around the city are slated to be repaired.
“We’re proud to launch the largest slurry seal project La Mesa has ever undertaken,” Mayor Mark Arapostathis said. “Maintaining our streets is one of our residents’ top concerns, and we’re committed to addressing it.
“This project reflects our ongoing investment in infrastructure and our pride in making the Jewel of the Hills shine brighter than ever.”
Slurry seal is used to prevent the deterioration of streets. It reduces the need for a more costly asphalt overlay and reconstruction for badly deteriorated streets.
The work is often completed in phases over several days or weeks.
Over the next few weeks, crews will be preparing various streets for slurry. The first step is to prepare the road by removing striping, weeds, and anything else that could prevent the slurry seal from sticking.
Next, crews will begin roadway patchwork and crack sealing on various streets.
Finally, the slurry application is scheduled to begin in August and September, followed by restriping of the streets.
“This approach not only enhances the appearance of the city’s more than 153 miles of streets; it also helps to prevent further deterioration caused by weather and daily wear and tear,” a city statement says.
“The project aims to extend the life of roadways while reducing the costs associated with asphalt pavement replacement.”
The project is expected to be completed by fall 2025. Portions of roads including Lake Murray Blvd., Baltimore Dr., and Fletcher Parkway are scheduled to be repaired.
The city has released an interactive map, showing which streets are scheduled for slurry seal and what type of work is planned.
“No parking” signs will be placed in impacted areas 72 hours prior to slurry application.
The city asks residents and motorists to be cautious and adhere to traffic control measures while the slurry seal work is in progress. The drying time for slurry seal application varies depending on the weather.