Public Works

Slurry and Crack Sealing

Background

The City of Long Beach is responsible for managing 786 miles of streets, each regularly assessed and assigned a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score to evaluate pavement quality. This data, combined with traffic flow patterns and available funding, guides the Department of Public Works in developing a Pavement Management Plan (PMP), which prioritizes street maintenance across the city.

A core component of the City’s strategy is preventative maintenance through crack and slurry seal treatments. These surface treatments are applied to streets in ‘good’ condition per the PMP, helping extend their lifespan and prevent more costly repairs.

This forward-thinking approach is carried out by the City’s in-house Crack and Slurry Seal Teams, which enables greater control over scheduling, quality assurance, responsiveness and better coordination with other maintenance programs.

Elevate ’28 is the City’s historic infrastructure initiative to enhance parks, community facilities, mobility access, and streets. Learn more at lbelevate28.com.

Identifying Streets for Surface Repair

While the PCI serves as a valuable tool for assessing road conditions, it is subject to change over time. To ensure accuracy and the most effective distribution of resources, the Public Works team conducts field inspections to determine the current state of roads and whether a slurry application is appropriate. Final determination depends on the presence of potholes, state of previous repairs, and other parameters that could impact the success of the slurry coating. See examples of different pavement conditions here.

Crack seal and slurry seal surface treatments are typically applied to streets in ‘Good’ condition per the PMP. Streets rated as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ typically do not require repairs. Streets rated as ‘Fair,’ Poor,’ or ‘Very Poor’ are often too deteriorated for crack sealing or slurry sealing to be effective in preventing further degradation, making them unsuitable candidates for these treatments.

For example, applying slurry seal to a street in ‘Good’ condition costs around $2 per square foot, while waiting until a street deteriorates to ‘Fair’ or ‘Poor’ condition can result in reconstruction costs of $10 or more per square foot. By pairing pavement assessment data with long-range planning, the City ensures that maintenance is performed at the optimal point in each street’s lifecycle, maximizing the return on investment while minimizing future costs.

Maintenance Performed and Considerations

The City works to address as many streets as possible with limited yearly budgets and as weather and other conditions allow. Maintaining streets with surface treatments to extend their lifespan is significantly more cost-effective than allowing them to deteriorate to a condition that requires more extensive work. Street surface treatments are generally done with the following applications:

• Pothole Filling is the process of applying asphalt or cold patch to areas of the street that have been degraded to the point where a depression exists. This is a temporary solution that prevents further damage to the roadway and vehicles until street repairs are prioritized. To report a pothole, click here.
• Crack Sealing is the process of applying an adhesive sealant into open cracks. It is a cost-effective maintenance practice that prevents moisture from entering the pavement, slows down pavement deterioration, and extends pavement life by 3 to 5 years. Crack seal is completed 2 or more weeks before slurry sealing and requires a 1-to-2-hour road closure to vehicle traffic. Pedestrian access is maintained on sidewalks.
  

• Slurry Sealing is the process of applying a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, and small particles on existing asphalt concrete pavement. It is a cost-effective treatment that seals the surface and fills in small cracks. It prevents moisture from entering the pavement, slows down deterioration of pavement, and extends pavement life by 5 to 7 years. This generally requires a full day road closure to vehicle and driveway access. Pedestrian access is maintained on sidewalks.
  
• Pavement Marking is the process of applying thermoplastic paint to the street surface delineating parking stalls, stop bars, center lines and other markings to ensure traffic safety and standards. Pavement markings are typically completed within 1 to 2 days after slurry sealing and require a road closure to vehicle traffic for approximately 4 to 8 hours. Pedestrian access is maintained on sidewalks.

When a street requires more extensive repairs than surface treatments can provide, it is deferred to Public Works Engineering to be included as part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). This requires inspection and prioritization for asphalt overlays or full reconstruction as funding becomes available. To learn more about the City’s current CIP, click here. You can also explore projects under Elevate ‘28 Mobility and Safety Improvements category by clicking here.

Funding

Street work identified in the City’s PMP is funded through various sources, including:

• Measure A: A local sales tax approved by voters in 2016, providing dedicated funding for street improvements.
• State and Federal Grants: Additional funding from state and federal programs.
• City Budget Allocations: Annual budget provisions for public works projects.

To meet the growing demand for street repairs and improvements, the City continues to pursue additional funding opportunities, including federal and state grants, potential bond revenues, and internal cost-saving measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the PMP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• When is slurry sealing work scheduled?

  Scheduling work depends on several factors, including weather (temperature needs to be at least 65 degrees for materials to properly set), supply of materials, staffing resources and more. The work season generally starts in April as weather allows and ends in October.
  
  Work may occur any time from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. with street closures in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Signs will be posted at least 72 hours before work begins with the specific project dates.

• How do I know when work is planned on my street?

  Residents will receive a letter in advance of planned maintenance activities 3 to 4 weeks before work is planned. No parking signs with specific dates will be posted along the street at least 72 hours in advance.

• Why did a street in better condition than mine get repaired while mine hasn’t?

  The City works to improve as many streets as possible each year within the allocated budget. The most readily available and cost-effective treatments like crack sealing and slurry seal can only be used on streets that haven’t yet fallen into disrepair. Once a street drops below the ‘Good’ rating, more expensive repairs, such as full resurfacing or reconstruction, are necessary. These major projects require more time and funding and are scheduled when resources become available as part of the City’s annual budget process and are integrated into the CIP plan.
  
  To see the PCI rating of your street, visit the PMP website. Please note that while the PCI serves as a valuable tool for assessing road conditions, it is subject to change over time.

• Are there any restrictions during maintenance activities?

  Crack sealing typically results in only minor access impacts, depending on the location of the cracks and the equipment used. The process moves quickly, with access generally restored within one to two hours.
  
  Slurry sealing is more involved and requires greater access restrictions. During slurry sealing, residents can expect:

  • Driveway Access Restrictions: Residents will not be able to enter or exit their driveways during work hours. Please plan accordingly and move vehicles ahead of time if needed.
  • Temporary Street Closures: Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic during work hours. Pedestrian access on sidewalks will remain available.
  • Parking Restrictions: No parking zones will be in place to allow crews to complete work safely and efficiently.

• What happens if a vehicle is parked in a no-parking zone during work hours?

  Vehicles left in designated no-parking zones during work hours will be towed. Signs will be posted at least 72 hours before work begins with the specific project dates when vehicle access will be restricted.

• Will I be able to drive in and out of my street and/or driveway during construction?

  Vehicle access will be restricted while work is underway, but pedestrian access will be maintained throughout. Driving a vehicle over the work area before it sets will damage the surface treatment.

• Can I walk through the construction area?

  Pedestrian access is limited to sidewalks. For your safety and to ensure the best quality of work, please avoid entering active work zones.

• What are the consequences of entering a closed road or work zone?

  Violating municipal code regulations, such as driving through a closed road, may result in fines of $5,000 or more.

• Will trash and recycling be collected as usual?

  Yes, refuse, recycling and organics collection is expected to continue as normal. Residents may place carts where they are normally placed.

• Who do I contact for more information?

  For more information or questions, please call (562) 570-5132 or e-mail pwstreets@longbeach.gov.

• What happens if/when work is postponed?

  Work may be delayed due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. In these cases, any previously posted signage will be removed or updated. New signs will be placed to notify residents of the revised construction dates once they are confirmed at least 72 hours in advance.