Public Works

Public Works Blog

Will the chip sealing crew be in your area this summer?

Posted On: June 15, 2020

Weekend county snowplow operations differ from weekday operations

Chelan County road crews have been busy prepping roadways scheduled for chip sealing this year. If you look closely, there are some tell-tale signs that the crews will be on your road in the coming weeks.

The first clue may be the sight of crack sealing on your roadway. That spidery black sealant over roadway cracking means the crew may have been by recently (you may have even seen them working). Crack sealing is done to prep a road for chip sealing.

Driving along a road, you may also spot another clue. Crews have been putting utility ID locators and coverings over utility cases and lids to protect them from the oil products we apply during chip sealing (see the photo above). They are removed a couple of weeks after a road is chip sealed.

The coverings and lids include a 3-inch rubber piece that sticks out from the stop of the cases. While the coverings may look like a spike, really they are just a piece of rubber. So no need to dodge them in the roadway.

The third clue is right on our website, where we've posted the information for you.

The list of roads up for chip sealing this year is available in a couple of places on our website. We’ve mapped them out on GIS (both 2020 and 2021 preservation roads) as well as provided them in PDF form. Our Pavement Preservation Program page also goes over what to expect when the crew is in your neighborhood. And, if you’d like a map of the road districts, we have that online as well.

This year, the crew will start chip sealing the week of June 22. Road crews will begin in the Cashmere District and then make their way to the Leavenworth District. After Leavenworth, they will head to the Chelan District and then wrap up in the Wenatchee District.

Crews expect to complete chip sealing in early August; however, weather and equipment performance may delay or change that schedule. Some years, wildfires have also impacted our schedule. We will try to post weekly to our Facebook page to let you know where the crews are working.

When you do come upon a road preservation crew, please use caution. Flaggers will be directing traffic, which will be at one lane. There are always some traffic delays with preservation, but they are minor. If you can, it’s best to avoid a roadway while the preservation crew works.


Older Articles

Weekend county snowplow operations differ from weekday operations

Posted On: December 20, 2023

Weekend county snowplow operations differ from weekday operations

On the weekends, our five road districts each have one operator working. That operator is going to be focused on main arterials, or those Priority 1 r...

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Passion for ‘big trucks’ drives O’Brien’s career with Public Works

Posted On: March 30, 2023

Passion for ‘big trucks’ drives O’Brien’s career with Public Works

A long-time passion for big trucks steered Donna O’Brien to Chelan County Public Works 14 years ago. While O’Brien is not the first woman at Chelan Co...

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Weight restrictions: They are coming, so be ready!

Posted On: February 08, 2023


Weight restrictions: They are coming, so be ready!

It’s that time of the year again, when the warming temps may bring temporary weight restrictions on county roads. While we don’t have any restrictions...

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Snow removal policies apply even in an emergency

Posted On: January 19, 2022


Snow removal policies apply even in an emergency

Chelan County is clarifying its snow removal policies with the public after receiving calls from frustrated citizens who were not prepared for the sig...

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Post-wildfire safety measures being put in place near 25-Mile Creek

Posted On: November 22, 2021

Post-wildfire safety measures being put in place near 25-Mile Creek

While the wildland firefighters are now gone, that doesn’t mean work on the Twenty-Five Mile Fire is over. Chelan County has been not only evaluating ...

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GIS tech creates emergency incidents map for wildfire response

Posted On: October 01, 2021

GIS tech creates emergency incidents map for wildfire response

Chelan County Public Works GIS technician Lori Beidler will be honored in October by the Washington Chapter of the American Public Works Association f...

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CCPW operators respond to cyclist in need of help

Posted On: April 12, 2021


CCPW operators respond to cyclist in need of help

Chelan County Public Works operators Earl Griffith and Curtis McClellan were in the right place at the right time when they came upon a stranded bicyc...

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2021 shaping up to be a busy construction year

Posted On: April 05, 2021


2021 shaping up to be a busy construction year

2021 is shaping up to be an active construction year for Chelan County Public Works. We are headed into the second year of the largest construction pr...

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With river construction comes underwater sound monitoring

Posted On: August 12, 2020

With river construction comes underwater sound monitoring

At the West Cashmere Bridge replacement project, you might get the chance to see an “acoustician” on site when the contractor is driving steel pilings...

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In-water work begins July 15 on West Cashmere Bridge project

Posted On: July 13, 2020

In-water work begins July 15 on West Cashmere Bridge project

With in-water construction related to the West Cashmere Bridge replacement project scheduled to begin July 15, Chelan County reminds recreationists on...

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Chelan County Calendar

Upcoming events and schedules at the county!

  • 18
    Dec 2024
    01:00 PM - 03:00 PM

    Hearing Examiner - December 18, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    By Zoom Video Conference or in person
  • 18
    Dec 2024
    06:00 PM - 09:00 PM

    Planning Commission - December 18, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    400 Douglas Street
  • 11
    Dec 2024
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

    Chelan County Civil Service Commission

    Posted by: Human Resources

    The Chelan County Civil Service Commission will be meeting on December 11, 2024.

    Chelan County Commissioners Office, CM Conference Room 1
  • 04
    Dec 2024
    09:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Hearing Examiner - December 4, 2024

    Posted by: Community Development

    Chelan County Administrative Building or zoom
  • 26
    Nov 2024
    09:30 AM - 10:30 AM

    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

    Posted by: Chelan County Elections

    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office