Columbia to start surface seal project

Columbia will start its surface seal project on Monday.

According to a press release, the city will be patching up 47 streets. The project is expected to take the rest of the summer.

“We had a very hard winter with 20-inch snow,” Columbia Public Works spokesman Barry Dalton said. A wet, hot summer has followed, stressing the roads even more, he said.

When water gets under the road in winter, it freezes and expands, pushing on and breaking up the pavement. Corrosive salt used to melt snow and ice contributes to the breakdown. The pavement becomes weak and breaks from the weight of vehicles and plows, which creates potholes.

Summer heat also causes pavement to expand, sometimes causing “blow ups” when pavement is pushed up from the ground surface because of heat expansion.

Dalton said Public Works this year has been trying “hot mix” repair of potholes for the first time no matter the weather. He said the method has been working well.

The department leans on drivers to help crews know where the potholes are located.

“We are asking people to call them in when they see them,” Dalton said.

According to the news release, drivers should be prepared for minor traffic delays. The city also advised motorists, non-motorist transportation users and pedestrians should be careful in areas where crews are working.

The Missouri Department of Transportation takes care of most of the major streets in Columbia, including Interstate 70, Providence Road, Stadium Boulevard and Highway 63. However, the city’s Street Division is responsible for the smaller streets throughout the city.

Potholes can be reported by calling 573-874-2489 or online by clicking here.