Road Preservation Project to Start Dec. 2 for Several Stock island, Key Haven, & Key Largo County-Maintained Roads

FLORIDA KEYS, FL – To preserve county roads and prolong pavement life, Monroe County is continuing the pavement preservation program it initiated in 2020. On Dec. 2, pavement Technology, Inc. will begin treating roads in Stock Island, Key Haven, and Key Largo that were resurfaced between 2018 and 2020. The project should take approximately 3-4 weeks to complete, weather permitting. This treatment will extend the life of the pavement up to eight years. The project will not take place on U.S. 1 and will not affect traffic along U.S. 1.

During the treatment period, the road will not be accessible to vehicular traffic for approximately 30 minutes. Access for emergency vehicles will remain available, and the contractor will work to minimize inconvenience to residents. The contractor will also place signs the day before in the neighborhoods scheduled to be treated.

The process involves applying a liquid rejuvenator to recently paved roads early in the pavement lifecycle to extend the life and minimize more costly repairs such as milling and resurfacing. The rejuvenator is sprayed on the road and allowed to penetrate the asphalt before a light coating of manufactured sand is placed over it to provide short-term friction and act as a blotting agent. The following day all treated roads are swept with a vacuum sweeper to remove the sand. The product is environmentally safe, washes from vehicles with soap and water, and does not create any runoff into the ocean.

In 2020, the crew treated 55 miles of county-maintained side and residential roads from Lower Sugarloaf to Little Torch Key and seven miles of County-maintained residential and side roads in Key Largo. In early 2021, the crew treated 47 miles of County-maintained side and residential roads in Big Pine Key.