City of Shawnee

Street Surface Treatment Types

In order to keep Shawnee’s roads maintained at the desired level of service, we utilize different surface treatments depending on the age and condition of the street.

  • Crack Seal: Crack seal is applied to newly surfaced roadways when they show signs of cracking. Sealing these cracks prevents moisture from getting into the base and causing premature road failure. Moisture getting into and under the road surface is the main cause for road failure.
  • Micro Seal: This treatment consists of the application of a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, small crushed aggregate and chemical additives to an existing asphalt surface. This helps seal the asphalt providing a new thin lift surface treatment.
  • Rejuvinator: Asphalt is a flexible road surface and, as it ages, it loses the asphalt content making it dryer and more conducive to cracking, which allows water to penetrate the surface. The application of a rejuvenator lets the surface re-absorb the chemicals that make it pliable thus extending the life of the pavement.
  • Mill and Overlay: A mill and overlay project consist of replacing the top two-inches of surface asphalt. This process consists of removing (milling) of the top two-inches of the asphalt surface then installing (overlay) a new asphalt surface. When we mill and overlay a road, we also replace any curb and sidewalk that meets our criteria at the time. Concrete removal will be completed prior to the mill and overlay of the road.
  • Reconstruction: Reconstruction typically entails removing the existing roadway full depth, performing any necessary subgrade modifications, and replacing it with a new roadway surface. This type of road maintenance is the most costly and typically scheduled as part of our Capital Improvement Projects.