Public Works

Slurry and Crack Sealing

Background

The City of Long Beach is responsible for managing nearly 1,000 miles of public streets, which are regularly evaluated through the Pavement Management Plan (PMP). Each street is assigned a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) rating to help prioritize maintenance needs citywide.

The City takes a proactive approach by targeting streets in “Good” to “Fair” condition for preventative surface treatments that extend the lifespan of the pavement and help avoid more costly reconstruction in the future.

This forward-looking strategy is implemented by the City’s in-house Street Maintenance team, allowing for greater control over scheduling, quality assurance, and coordination with other maintenance programs.

This work is part of Elevate ’28, the City’s historic infrastructure initiative to improve parks, community facilities, mobility access, and streets. Learn more and view maps of completed street improvements at lbelevate28.com.

Identifying Streets for Surface Repair

Streets are selected for preventative surface treatments using a combination of the PCI rating along with traffic data and on-site field inspections. This proactive approach extends the life of streets in “Good” to “Fair” condition at a fraction of the cost required for the complete reconstruction of streets that have deteriorated to worse condition.



To see the PCI rating of your street, visit the PMP website.

Please note that while the PCI serves as a valuable tool for assessing road conditions, it is subject to change over time. Public Works crews regularly conduct field inspections to determine whether slurry application is appropriate based on the presence of potholes, state of previous repairs and other factors that may impact the success of street surface treatments.

Preventative Street Maintenance Process

To extend the life of City streets and preserve pavement quality, surface treatments are completed in a sequence involving pothole filling, crack sealing, slurry sealing, and pavement marking.

   

Pothole Filling: Potholes and other surface imperfections are filled at least two weeks in advance of crack sealing. This delays further roadway damage and protects vehicles until the street can be repaired. Generally, a full road closure isn’t required.

Crack Sealing: An adhesive sealant is applied to open cracks to prevent moisture from entering the pavement, extending its life by 3 to 5 years. Crack seal is completed 2+ weeks before slurry sealing and requires a road closure of 1 to 2 hours.

Slurry Sealing: A mixture of water, asphalt emulsion and small particles is applied on existing asphalt concrete pavement to seal its surface and fill in small cracks, extending its life by 5 to 7 years. This process requires a full road closure, restricting vehicle and driveway access for a full day to allow the treatment to cure.

Pavement Marking: Pavement markings are typically added 1 to 2 days after the slurry seal and require a closure to vehicle traffic for approximately 4 to 8 hours.

  

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Streets that are deteriorated past the “Good” to “Fair” rating require an asphalt overlay or full reconstruction. Included as part of the city’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), these projects are scheduled as funding becomes available.

To learn more about the current CIP, click here, and explore projects under Elevate ‘28 Mobility and Safety Improvements category by clicking here.

Funding

The City works with limited budgets to address as many streets as conditions allow. Street work identified in the City’s PMP is funded through various sources, including City of Long Measure A, Los Angeles County Measure R and other resources as they are available.

For more details see CIP budget.

To meet the growing demand for street repairs and improvements, the City continues to pursue additional funding opportunities, including federal and state grants, potential bond revenues, and internal cost-saving measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the PMP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• When is preventative street maintenance work scheduled?

  Weather, supply of materials, staffing resources and other factors determine scheduling for crack and slurry seal treatments. The temperature must be at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit for certain materials to set, so the work season generally starts in April and ends in October.
  
  Work may occur any time from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. with street closures in effect anywhere between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Signs with project dates will be posted at least 72 hours before work begins.

• How do I know when work is planned on my street?

  Residents will receive a letter 3 to 4 weeks in advance of planned maintenance activities. “No Parking” signs with dates will be posted along the street at least 72 hours in advance.

• Why did a street in better condition than mine get repaired while mine hasn’t?

  The City works to improve as many streets as possible each year within the allocated budget. The most available and cost-effective treatments like crack sealing and slurry seal can only be used on streets without major issues. Streets that require extensive repairs require more time and funding to address. They are scheduled as part of the City’s annual budget process and are integrated into the CIP plan.

• Are there any restrictions during maintenance activities?

  Crack sealing and pavement marking typically results in minor access impacts, depending on the location of the cracks and equipment used. The process moves quickly, with access generally restored within one to two hours.
  
  Slurry sealing is more involved and requires greater access restrictions. During slurry sealing, residents can expect:

  • Driveway Access Restrictions: Vehicles will not be able to enter or exit their driveways during work hours. Please plan accordingly and move vehicles ahead of time if needed.
  • Temporary Street Closures: Streets will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic during work hours (see above for timeframes based on phase of work). Sidewalk access will remain available.
  • Parking Restrictions: No parking zones will be in place to allow crews to complete work safely and efficiently.

  See the Preventative Street Maintenance Process section above for more details.

• What happens if a vehicle is parked in a no-parking zone during work hours?

  Vehicles left in designated no-parking zones during work hours will be towed. “No Parking” signs with applicable dates will be posted at least 72 hours before work begins.

• Will I be able to access my street and/or driveway during construction?

  Vehicle access will be restricted at varying levels while work is underway, but sidewalk access will be maintained throughout. Driving a vehicle over the work area before it sets will damage the surface treatment.

• Can I walk through the construction area?

  Pedestrian access is limited to sidewalks. For your safety, please avoid entering active work zones.

• What are the consequences of entering a closed road or work zone?

  Violating municipal code regulations, such as driving through a closed road, may result in fines of $5,000 or more.

• Will trash and recycling be collected as usual?

  Yes; refuse, recycling and organics collection should continue as normal. Residents should place carts where they are normally placed by 7 a.m.

• Who do I contact for more information?

  For more information or questions, please call (562) 570-5132 or email pwstreets@longbeach.gov.

• What happens if work is postponed?

  Work may be delayed due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Any previously posted signage will be removed or updated to notify residents of the revised construction at least 72 hours in advance of its start.

• How can I report a pothole?

  To report a pothole, click here.