On Monday, July 7, construction crews plan to start preparing select downtown roadways for chip sealing. This prep work will require brief parking restrictions as crews clean out cracks in the roadway before they start chip sealing the week of July 14. This work is being completed as part of the Downtown Billings Two-Way Restoration project and is one of the final steps in preparing the streets for two-way traffic later this summer.
The project team has been distributing notices in advance to downtown businesses, tenants, and property owners that will be impacted by this work.
Members of the public can help construction crews by not parking in restricted areas and moving their vehicles off the street prior to July 7. Vehicles left on the street in areas with parking restrictions will be towed.
What to expect starting July 7:
- Crews will begin blowing out roadway cracks to prepare for chip seal. This work will take approximately one week to complete.
- Brief parking restrictions will be in place. On-street parking may continue once restrictions are lifted.
- Traffic will be maintained although there may be brief lane closures in sections where this work is happening. Flaggers will help direct traffic around workers.
What to expect starting July 14:
- Crews will begin chip sealing the roadways. This work is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete, weather and other factors permitting.
- On-street parking restrictions will be in place throughout the project area. These restrictions could last 2-3 days in areas where chip seal operations are active. Drivers should look for bagged meters, No Parking signs, and other traffic control to know where parking is restricted. Parking garages and surface lots will remain open for use.
- Traffic will be maintained although there will be brief lane closures in sections where chip seal is happening. Flaggers will help direct traffic around workers.
Once chip seal operations are complete, the pavement markings will be covered up. Temporary tabs will be placed in the roadway to delineate travel lanes prior to final striping. The roads will operate as one-way until crews apply interim striping to the roadway and all two-way signage and traffic signals are installed and activated. Permanent, epoxy pavement markings will be applied to the roadway approximately 30 days after chip seal is completed.
Chip seal is a cost-effective method used to protect and extend the life of a road. It involves applying a thin layer of asphalt to the road surface, followed by a layer of gravel or crushed stone. The gravel is then pressed into the asphalt to help seal cracks, prevent water from seeping into the roadway, and improve the driving surface and traction for vehicles.
Travel advisories:
- Avoid sharp turns and hard breaking on freshly chip sealed surfaces to prevent damage to vehicles and the new road surface.
- Follow all traffic control, slow down in the work zone, and give workers plenty of space.
- The Strawberry Festival is Saturday, July 12th and the first Yellowstone Valley Farmer’s Market is on Saturday, July 19.
Comments, questions, or concerns can be directed to billings2way@dowl.com or by calling 406-869-6349. More information and instructions on signing up for project updates can be found at www.billings2way.com.