by Morinville News Staff
The appearance of gravel on 100 Avenue last week had residents and Town staff concerned about what was going on.
Alberta Transportation, who controls and maintains Highway 642 running through Morinville, is in the process of doing seal coat repairs from now until early September.
An Alberta Transportation manual defines chip seal as follows: “Chip Seal Coat shall consist of a wearing course composed of processed aggregates held in place by an asphalt binder, spread and rolled on a prepared surface to the lines and dimensions shown on the plans or as designated by the Consultant.”
The Town of Morinville seems to have been caught off-guard by the province about the work.
“Public Works looked into this Friday as we were not aware of the work being done,” said Town of Morinville communications head Felicity Bergman in response to questions from Morinville News. “The project is part of Alberta Transportation’s Road Maintenance program – effort to minimize maintenance and prolong the useable life of the road. This is not a Town of Morinville project.”
Bergman went on to say the Town understands the process to take a week weather permitting. All lanes of 100 Avenue are involved. The project involves spraying an asphalt tack/spray and placing rock chips to seal and level the surface.
Bergman said the contractor will be sweeping up the remnant rock chips once the work has been completed,” Bergman said. “Public Works is working to get more details from the Contractor on timelines – but weren’t able to get a response late yesterday [Friday] afternoon.”
In a Facebook post on the Town of Morinville Facebook page Saturday, the Town indicates that “Morinville’s CAO has also advised Alberta Transportation’s Manager of Operations and Manager of Infrastructure of our [the Town’s] concerns and await their response.”
Comments on a MorinvilleNews.com Facebook post on the road repair were mixed, and included several concerns about damage to car windows.
“Will they be repairing vehicle windshields free of cost too?” wrote Michael Barnes.
Other commenters, including Chelle Jane were just happy the road was getting done. “Well, at least we live in a country where do get our roads fixed,” she commented. “Gravel is a minor inconvenience.”
Morinville resident Judy Carver had the same question the Town seems to have on the work.
“How does the provincial government not talk to the town they are doing the work through? Great communication.”
According to signs posted on either side of town, the work is to continue until Sept. 4.
They’ll have fun sealing it now that it’s scattered all over the place from being driven on all weekend lol.
Lazy ass way to do it . Do they replace my wind shield or fix my paint? Not a chance. Get that shit out of my town.
Concerned is an understatement.
Free windshield repairs next week!?
Should this have been done before painting the lines and crosswalks?
Its chip seal repair, same thing as on highway 803.
Drive slow.
Thats it, stop making a story where none really exists.
I have never seen this done in any town always on highways
I feel like I could be friends with you. Lol i was thinking the exact same thing.
The road is a highway.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjfg9Ojz4vdAhWROn0KHUQ4C-cQhq8BegQIARAq&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DU3sMjm9Eloo&psig=AOvVaw2Nd343uMYzl2QBLkWDZjjl&ust=1535403864131533
Paul Dupuis it is a provincial highway.
Town was painting lines in morning and covered over in the afternoon
As the Town has indicated – they seem to have not been informed the work was taking place – therein is the story.
Chip seal seems to be Alberta Transportation’s standard repair in towns now – just as roundabouts were the flavour of the day traffic solution for a while.
Atleast the gravel road has markers for the lanes
What an embarrassing mess! I have lived in areas where they used this road resurfacing but NEVER have I seen it used IN TOWN! All that gravel is going to end up in the storm sewer system! Not to mention the damage to private property from rocks flying all over the place! How will main street be cleaned after events like the parade? You can’t operate a street sweeper on it. It’s dusty, it’s rough, it increases road noise and it wears out tires much faster. Then when winter arrives, the snow plow shaves off big patches of the gravel and it end up everywhere! This in town resurfacing is an embarrassment to Morinville making the town look like it has dirt roads!
About two sentences into the article, it explains how seal coat or chip seal works.
The gravel aggregate is sealed in asphalt. What is there now is the first step or work that will take from now until just after Labor Day to complete.
Below is a photo of what it should look like completed.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nazmul_Hassan6/publication/294723931/figure/fig59/AS:329776356184075@1455636218469/Chip-Seal.jpg
Come winter this hopefully helps with road conditions. Just had wished that transportation and town council hade a meet and greet about this prior to work springing up.
MorinvilleNews.com I know what it looks like, they did this type of resurfacing in Quebec in the 80’s on country roads. It didn’t last long because each winter the snow plows would scrape large patches off. It wore our your tires faster and it was noisy to drive on. It did provide some additional traction when the pavement was wet but the gravel eventually wears down and that single benefit disappears.
MorinvilleNews.com I know what it looks like when it’s done AND I know what it looks like a few years later!!! I had to drive on this stuff in Quebec back in the 80’s at least they didn’t put it through TOWN roads!
It’s a provincial highway man…
That runs through town! They should of stopped applying the chips at the east & west town limits!
David K. L. LeBel most of us know that we lived in this town all of our lives
town doesn’t control the highway. that’s been reaffirmed year after year.
Some of us arent down on the town. We are down on the lack of smarts in alberta transportation/department of highways. Really stupid waste of money. It doesnt fill the numerous pot holes which is where it will start to peel. It does go into the storm drains.This mess will be around for a while.
If it’s carillon doing the work expect it to be there for weeks. they can’t even fix a hi way sign that’s been down all summer
^ You have a valid point! ?
Carillon no longer exists.
There is gravel every where. We have gone back in time using gravel to fix roads. How can a motorcycle be ridden on this. Does anyone care if one looses control and drops the bike and seriously hurts oneself. Who is responsible. What about chips on the windshield. Can we claim for repairs?
Good grief.
I can guarantee you that if you are capable of driving as you would in a construction zone, your windshield will be safe, you’ll be safe on your bike.
(Wait, they posted speed reduction signs? Yes?)
No it’s still 50 kph.
Fred William Glaubitz this is a hazard for motorcycles
Fred has never rode a motorcycle.
It’s used everywhere. You can also get chips everywhere. Bikers will come across this no matter where they go. You just deal with it
For the other FB experts (myself included!)
You’ll have better traction, less glare, improved night visibility once this process is complete.
So again, this is a good thing!
Drive slowly and you’ll become part of the solution instead of the problem.
Spoken like someone who drives very little… This resurfacing is acceptable on OUT OF TOWN Roads. Tomorrow step out of your car and try walking on it or risk taking a stroll on the sidewalk and get hit by gravel from a car/ truck doing 40kmh.
Francois DuBois
“Spoken like someone who drives very liittle”
Yeah okay!!
Ive driven over 18 years commercially all across North America. In addition, Ive done other vehicle related stuff in the last 25.
So tell me about your resume son. ?
Fred William Glaubitz “drive slowly and you’ll become part of the solution instead of the problem” so as a commercial driver you drive below the speed limit?
Section 6.2 of this report on chip seal on highway 127 in Ontario shows that “applying and maintaining zone striping is more difficult. A follow-up application of road markings on the double seal was done during a warm spell in January 2007. Another comment was that it took more de-icing material to maintain the de-icing standard required on such a highway during the first winter. Both these statements are valid not only for the 2006 double chip seal on Highway 127 but also have been previously noticed on other chip sealed roads.” http://www.mcasphalt.com/sites/default/files/2007%20-%20Resurfacing%20of%20Highway%20127%20in%20Ontario%20Using%20a%20High%20Performance%20Double%20Chip%20Seal-Kucharek%2CDavidson%2CLinton%20and%20Phillips.pdf
Francois DuBois over freshly laid chips, yes. ?
Matt Hopkins
Problem for motorcycles. It was dark that first night and I didn’t see a sign. Damn near the end of me
Joanne Maynard
Seal coat repair? How about turning the road into a gravel road? First time I’ve ever seen such a thing. An inch of gravel, really?
Folks; this is not new. This is common practice everywhere else in the province. It, too, shall be sealed. The only thing you have to fear is fear it self.