The steps involved in the chip and fog seal process include: cleaning and prepping, chip seal application and curing, vacuuming to reduce loose gravel, fog sealing and striping, and repeating in the next 3-5 mile section.
NPS Photo
The Blue Ridge Parkway manages 554 miles of paved road, including the iconic 469-mile-long main parkway road. All pavement deteriorates over time. The parkway has many demands on its road surface. It is a heavily traveled, high elevation road subject to seasonal freeze-thaw cycles in winter and solar radiation in summer.
Funding for road systems in national parks comes from national gas tax dollars through the Federal Lands Transportation Program (FLTP). The parkway receives approximately $7 to $10 million per year for paving, bridge, and tunnel repair projects through a competitive process with other national parks in the southeast region of the National Park Service. However, the parkway has about $500 million in deferred maintenance costs. Approximately 90% of these costs are due to maintenance needed on paved roads in the park.
What is Pavement Preservation?
In order to more strategically invest funding for road projects, the parkway, along with parks throughout the National Park Service, has identified road sections eligible for a strategy known as pavement preservation. Pavement preservation applies a new road surface to sections in good condition, helping slow deterioration and allowing the road maintenance budgets to go further. This top-coat on the pavement has a typical lifespan of 5 to 7 years, at which point the topping must be reapplied, to protect the pavement structure below.
What to Expect During Pavement Preservation Work
Work zones will be managed using one-lane traffic control with flaggers and a pilot vehicle under reduced speed limits.
Observe reduced speed limits in work zones, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to maintain safe operations and allow for proper curing of pavement
Anticipate loose gravel on the road surface during pavement curing times.
Bicyclists and motorcyclists are asked to exercise extreme caution in project areas as loose gravel on top of the paved surface could result in loss of control.
Road Closures will be updated with current information about rolling work zones.
Pavement preservation helps to extend the Parkway's pavement life.
