Roadwork Notice: Nighttime Surfacing Scheduled On Major City Roads from Aug. 31 – Sept. 8

The City’s Department of Public Infrastructure and contractors will be conducting overnight road surfacing into early September on major city roads.

The following roads are scheduled for a preventative maintenance treatment known as microsurface paving during night work from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:

 

  • East Rodney French Boulevard (Cove St. to Butler St.) – 8/31 & 9/1
  • Nash Road (Mt. Pleasant St. to Acushnet Ave.) – 8/31 & 9/1
  • Rockdale Ave. ( Grape St. to Cove Road) – 9/5 & 9/6
  • Acushnet Ave. (Victoria St. to Monmouth St.) – 9/5 to 9/8
  • Pleasant St. (Route 140 to New Plainville Road) – 9/7 & 9/8

What work is being done?

Streets will receive microsurface paving – a “quick set” preventive maintenance treatment that extends the life of the roadway surface.

What can you expect?

There will be no interruption of trash or other municipal services. Do not leave items in the roadway the day of the microsurface.

Traffic on affected roads will be restricted, and controlled by police details. Microsurfacing will be completed over several nights. While the microsurface is being placed and cured, no vehicle access to or from affected driveways or dead-end streets will be allowed. Please plan accordingly. Roads will open by the end of work each

day. At all times, watch for directions from police details.

Driving on wet microsurface will damage the road and could damage your vehicle.

There will be no daytime parking on streets to be treated that night. You will be asked to park your vehicle(s) off the street to be treated by 7 p.m. Vehicles will be towed.

Why is this work being completed?

Preventive road maintenance saves tax dollars by extending the life of existing road surfaces.

Over the long term, it is less expensive to maintain the roadway surface than to reconstruct it when it fails. The average life of an asphalt road surface is 20 to 25 years. However, it starts to show signs of distress and deterioration much earlier. The sun’s rays beating down on the pavement during hot summer months bakes the roadway surface and causes drying and cracking.

Rain can seep into the roadway base and cause premature failure such as potholes. Cold

temperatures and the freezing/thawing of water plus the action of plowing can wear away the surface. When the road surface has undergone preventative maintenance by sealing it every 7 to 10 years, it allows the City to maximize funding to better serve the community.

Who will do the work?

Indus, Inc. under the direction of the City of New Bedford Department of Public Infrastructure, will complete the work. The contractor is required to comply with the City’s specifications and contract requirements. A City Engineer will be onsite, ensuring that the work is performed in compliance with the contract.

When will the work be done?

Work will start on Sunday night August 31st through Thursday morning September 8th.

The schedule may change due to weather, equipment breakdown, availability of materials, or other conditions.

What do you need to know?

The microsurface is applied as a liquid and requires between 1 and 2 hours to cure before the surface is ready for traffic. During this time, please keep cars, children and pets off the roadway surface. Prior to drying, the microsurface is very messy and does not clean up easily. It will stick to shoes, carpet and cars. Also, please do not allow water to run onto the street starting the night before the microsurface, this includes using sprinklers. The surface must be dry and free of standing water.

During the first few weeks after the microsurface, it may look like the surface is unfinished, the sealant is everywhere, and that the color is changing. This is part of the normal process.

Vehicles driving over the microsurface treatment help roll and smooth the surface. While this is happening, some small pieces of stone may loosen from the mixture and minor rips and tears may appear on the surface of the roadway.

A few weeks after application of the microsurface, crews will inspect your street, sweep up any loose gravel, make necessary repairs, and replace any pavement markings. Within about 6 months, the street should begin to turn the familiar dark gray color.

What if I have further questions?

If you have additional questions, please contact the Department of Public Infrastructure’s Repair Office at (508) 979-1550 Ext. 4, or email streetpavinginfo@newbedford-ma.gov

We recognize that this may cause you some short-term inconvenience. Please keep in mind that the result is a long-term benefit.

Work zones can be dangerous. Be attentive and use caution around the work zones.

Watch for and follow the direction of police details and roadway flaggers.