5 Apache Junction streets in $289K fog-seal pavement project

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

Fog-seal pavement preservation on portions of five Apache Junction streets is to start between March and May in a nearly $290,000 contract approved recently by the city council.

Fog seal is a light application of diluted emulsion sprayed on an existing asphalt surface to enrich aging, weathered surfaces. Fog seals are also used to reduce chip loss on chip seals, according to Pinal County’s website.

The council voted unanimously Feb. 6 as part of a consent agenda with other items to award a $289,935.37 contract to Sunland Asphalt and Construction for the application of a pavement preservation fog seal to select city streets. The work would be through a “1 Government Procurement Alliance” cooperative contract. The amount includes a 10% contingency for unforeseen costs.

The project is to be funded with street sales tax monies, Public Works Manager Shane Kiesow wrote in a memo to council.

“The work involves the fog sealing of various city streets including portions of Lost Dutchman Boulevard, Southern Avenue and Baseline Avenue. The work would last for about a week during the March-May 2024 timeframe. Work would occur during the daytime hours only with limited impacts to vehicular traffic lanes and residential entrances,” he said.

Sunland Asphalt and Construction is to power sweep and clean approximately 77,327 square yards of roadway, according to a written bid form.

The contractor is to apply a fog seal to the 77,327 square yards at an approximate rate of 0.12 gallons per square yard, with adhesion or bonding of fog seal materials not warranted in areas exposed to automotive fluids and/or other spills, it states.

Pavement markings are planned on five street sections in Apache Junction: Baseline Avenue from Ironwood Drive to the city limits, Southern Avenue from Ironwood Drive to Delaware Drive, Winchester Road from Southern Avenue to Klamath Avenue, Baseline Avenue from Tomahawk Road to Winchester Road and Lost Dutchman Boulevard from Tomahawk Road to Apache Trail, according to the written bid form.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.