The state Department of Transportation will begin a pavement preservation project Monday on roughly a mile of Route 11 in the Notch where South Abington Twp. meets Scranton, with lane restrictions planned to accommodate the work.
The project will specifically take place between Scott Road in South Abington Twp. and the Route 6/Route 11 interchange in the city, PennDOT said in a press release noting Monday lane closures on Route 11 in the northbound and southbound directions. The release also advises of lane closures in both directions from Wednesday through Aug. 5, and alternating lane closures Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, when the work is expected to conclude barring weather or other delays.
PennDOT will use what’s called a cape seal process for the pending project, which will be the department’s “first completed cape seal in the state” when the work wraps up next month, according to the release. It describes the cape seal treatment as more cost-effective than traditional paving.
The pavement preservation technique will seal the existing road surface and extend its life by protecting the pavement from moisture and deterioration. It will also increase traction on the surface itself, PennDOT said.
The project includes “a single application of seal coat followed by a double application of micro-surfacing, a thin layer of asphalt that extends the life of the roadway,” according to the release, which notes “a fiberized seal coat will be installed as part of the seal coat application on one lane in each direction of Route 11 to address cracking and increase the expected life of the cape seal.”
“The cape seal will begin with PennDOT department forces completing an application of seal coat on one lane in each direction under a lane closure,” the release continues. “Once these lanes are completed, the Department’s contractor and department forces will place a fiberized seal coat to the adjacent lanes. Following this sealcoat applications, the Department’s contractor will complete a double application of a thin asphalt coating on all four lanes of Route 11. The micro-surfacing will be completed approximately one week after the seal coat to ensure the water has evaporated from the sealcoat applications.”
Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in the project area and consider alternative routes if possible. The average daily traffic on Route 11 is 10,192 vehicles, PennDOT said.