Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that the last round of surface treatment operations, more commonly known as “oil and chip,” impacting roads in Clearfield County are slated for this week. This maintenance treatment seals the road surface to keep water out, restores the friction of the surface to enhance traction, and extends the pavement life between resurfacings.
Weather permitting, PennDOT Clearfield County Maintenance crews plan to adhere to the following schedule while conducting these operations:
Monday, September 8:
- Route 2027 (Mineral Springs Road) between Route 2024 (Dimeling Road/Pleasant Hill Road/Old Erie Pike) in Boggs Township and Route 2030 (Bigler Cutoff Road) in Bradford Township.
- Route 2028 (Long Run Road) between Route 2027 (Mineral Springs Road) and Route 2049 in Boggs Township.
- All of Route 2030 (Bigler Cutoff Road) in Bradford Township.
Monday, September 8, and Tuesday, September 9:
- All of Route 1012 (Shiloh Road) in Bradford Township.
Wednesday, September 10, and Thursday, September 11:
- Route 2002 (Utahville Road) between Route 53 and Route 866 in Beccaria Township.
- All of Route 2042 (Dillon Road) in Beccaria Township.
Friday, September 12:
- Route 3015 (Naulton Road) between Bailey Road in Curwensville Borough and Route 3032 (Shadybrook Drive) in Pike Township.
Flaggers in the roadway will provide traffic control during daylight hours while completing the surface treatment operations. PennDOT urges drivers to reduce their speed on roads that have received this treatment during the curing period or to consider alternate routes.
Several of these roads were scheduled for surface treatments the week of September 1, but work was delayed due to weather.
PennDOT typically employs surface treatments as a preservation strategy on roads with low traffic volumes and speed limits of 35 mph or slower. This activity extends the life of those roads by keeping water out, which mitigates the damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle of Pennsylvania winters and delays the formation of potholes and the oxidization process.
In recent years, PennDOT District 2 has expanded its use of seal coating to roadways with higher traffic volumes and speed limits of 55 mph or faster as it strives to effectively manage and preserve its assets while being good stewards of taxpayer money.
PennDOT performs this activity in temperatures greater than 60 degrees, generally between April and September. Crews begin by sweeping the roadway clean of debris. Next, they apply emulsion oil and a layer of stone, which they then roll into place using a roller. Once cured, crews sweep any loose material from the roadway.
For more information on PennDOT’s Maintenance Activities, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/about-us/maintenanceactivities.
