Highway 20 seal coat failing

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Story Published: Apr 23, 2009 at 5:47 PM MDT

Story Updated: Apr 23, 2009 at 11:26 PM MDT

By Steven Pope

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RIGBY - "We spent a lot of money to have that highway repaved. When they put that seal coat they didn't do a good job. It didn't even last the first year. It was coming off before winter came," said Lewis Powell.

That's the frustrations of Lewis Powell from St. Anthony, he drives his motorcycle on highway 20 all the time. But with loose gravel and a rut in the middle, he's afraid to change lanes.

Powell continued, "A motorcycle doesn't respond well to it. You can feel lit, it moves things around."

Powell went to the Idaho Transportation department for answers, "You can't get a firm answer on what they are going to do to repair it."

So I tried my luck with some questions. I asked, "The Seal coat didn't stick on the highway what are you going to do about it?"

Bruce King, with ITD responded, "We're very disappointed that seal coat came loose."

Not getting an answer to my question, I asked, "Is there nothing you guys can do to fix it?

"The ugh... Trying to replace the seal coat would make it worse," answered King.

So I asked a followup question, "Since it just got put on last year, when's the earliest we can repave it?"

King responded, "Well its not on the schedule to be resurfaced at all."

In case you're wondering what a seal coat is, it's liquid asphalt sprayed on the pavement with a layer of crushed rock on the top of it. So if it breaks, you're left with loose gravel.

If you get a rock chip in your windshield because of the seal coating problem. You can come down to the Idaho Transportation Department in Rigby. And if you're lucky, they might even send you a check.

If you have a story in the Upper Valley you want me to know about, send me an email: stevenp@kidk.com

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