Chip-Sealing…More!

by Rob Coppolillo on August 26, 2010

For those of you following the ongoing chip-seal debate/discussion, I’ll paste below the latest from Hugh Walton. Hugh has spearheaded the effort to initiate a conversation with the Colorado Department of Transportation, as well as the Boulder County Department of Transportation, regarding the impacts of chip-sealing on cycling.

To review, BCDOT has chip-sealed several major cycling thoroughfares (Nelson Road, Olde Stage, and Highway 36) in the past few weeks. The Nelson Road resurfacing used a 1/4″ aggregate and a “fog seal”, which (according to Hugh) rendered the surface smooth and bike-friendly. The 36 section, however, turned out much rougher, with a less bike-friendly feel.

Dan Rowland at the County and Al Roys and CDOT have been kind enough to answer many of Hugh’s questions and they’re our ongoing contacts with those organizations. Hugh is trying to get the state to adopt a standard in chip-sealing when it comes to bike-frequented areas, so let’s stay tuned and offer our support when the time comes.

Below is Hugh’s latest recap. Thanks Hugh!

1. Roughness: That new section of chip seal is significantly rougher than the chip seal section of US 36 north of Nelson Road and almost all other State maintained roads with chip seal. Based upon my conversation with Al today, it sounds like the intent was to not make it so rough, but that is what the aggregate came out as due to some internal bidding issues and the like.
2. Boulder County Chip Seal: Boulder County has very recently (last week) chip sealed Nelson road from US 36 at least to 75th. I rode on that section a couple times and I have to say that the smoothness is very acceptable and a big relief to us cyclists. According to Dan, it’s 1/4″ aggregate with a fog seal on top. Based upon the relative smoothness of the road AFTER the chip seal, I’d have to say the fog seal is not just cosmetic.
3. Standards: It does not sound as though CDOT has a standard for chip seal that meets the needs of CDOT and all it’s constituents including car drivers and cyclists. Let’s work together to set a standard.
4. Fixing 36: I am asking CDOT to redo the new section of chip seal north of Boulder on US 36 with either a fog coat that smoothes things over (not sure that will do the trick) or with a “racked in seal” or a “cape seal”. I know this is more expense but given the extremely rough nature of the surface now and the extreme bike traffic there on 36 I think this is required.
5. Cross-Purposes: The State of Colorado is working hard to encourage cycling. Governor Ritter is a cycling enthusiast. He even participated in the recent announcement of a world-class bicycle stage race for Colorado next year. (I raced the Coors Classic a couple times).  It would seem completely counter productive to have one arm of the State working to encourage cycling and having another arm of the State doing things that discourage cycling to the extreme.
6. Harm to Cyclists: Given that US 36 north of Boulder is perhaps the most heavily traveled CDOT-maintained bike route in the state, it makes sense to do the chip seal correctly. After all, even as an experienced cyclist, I have to say that my feet and hands were “ringing” and “vibrating” after riding on this for even a short amount of time. I have no doubt (but no proof right now) that such a rough surface is harmful to the health of bike riders.
7. Downsides?: There seems to be no downside in regards to safety, durability or cost in going with the 1/4″ aggregate with a fog seal. It is extremely unlikely that the wear-and-tear on such a chip seal would be significantly different from what has recently been put down there.



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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Will Toor August 30, 2010 at 10:29 am

Hi, Rob. Thanks for the productive and informative article. I would like to post one correction. You state that the Boulder County Department of Transportation recently chipsealed Nelson Road, Old Stage, and 36. This is not correct. The County did do Nelson and Old Stage – and were careful to use an approach that works for cyclists. 36 is a state highway, and the work was done by CDOT. We are having conversations with CDOT about making sure that we are informed in advance of any similar work in the future, using a chip seal approach that gives a better surface for cycling, and whether anything can be done to improve the section that they recently chipsealed. -Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner (and daily cyclist)

Will Toor August 30, 2010 at 10:29 am

Hi, Rob. Thanks for the productive and informative article. I would like to post one correction. You state that the Boulder County Department of Transportation recently chipsealed Nelson Road, Old Stage, and 36. This is not correct. The County did do Nelson and Old Stage – and were careful to use an approach that works for cyclists. 36 is a state highway, and the work was done by CDOT. We are having conversations with CDOT about making sure that we are informed in advance of any similar work in the future, using a chip seal approach that gives a better surface for cycling, and whether anything can be done to improve the section that they recently chipsealed. -Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner (and daily cyclist)

Will Toor August 30, 2010 at 10:29 am

Hi, Rob. Thanks for the productive and informative article. I would like to post one correction. You state that the Boulder County Department of Transportation recently chipsealed Nelson Road, Old Stage, and 36. This is not correct. The County did do Nelson and Old Stage – and were careful to use an approach that works for cyclists. 36 is a state highway, and the work was done by CDOT. We are having conversations with CDOT about making sure that we are informed in advance of any similar work in the future, using a chip seal approach that gives a better surface for cycling, and whether anything can be done to improve the section that they recently chipsealed. -Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner (and daily cyclist)

rob August 31, 2010 at 11:29 am

great, will, thanks a bunch for the clarification. i’ll post it to my blog immediately…and bigger thanks for championing our cause within the city and county. much appreciated!

hope to see you on the bike soon,
rob

rob August 31, 2010 at 11:29 am

great, will, thanks a bunch for the clarification. i’ll post it to my blog immediately…and bigger thanks for championing our cause within the city and county. much appreciated!

hope to see you on the bike soon,
rob

rob August 31, 2010 at 11:29 am

great, will, thanks a bunch for the clarification. i’ll post it to my blog immediately…and bigger thanks for championing our cause within the city and county. much appreciated!

hope to see you on the bike soon,

rob