Nathan Straus
CNHI
JACKSONVILLE —
Precinct 3 roadways received a new road coat product that could save the area more than $50,000, Commissioner Katherine Pinotti said.
A distributor truck spent Thursday morning coating multiple streets with Road Overcoat, an alternative to the seal coat currently used by the precinct.
“This is a brand new product that will seal and protect the road. When it rains it will not release carcinogenic materials into the water,” Pinotti said.
P2 Emulsions Representative Paul Leadabrand said the chemicals in the compound are environmentally safe.
“The Road Overcoat doesn’t have any volatile organic compounds,” Leadabrand said. “It seals the cracks and binds the rock together, giving another four to six years of life on the roads.”
Pinotti welcomed representatives from Henderson, Walker and Jefferson counties as they came to observe the spraying as the coat was applied to Precinct 3 roadways.
Henderson County Precinct 1 Road Foreman Gary Arthus said he came to see if the process would work for his county.
“I think it’ll probably work fine for us,” Arthus said. “We’re trying to extend the life of our roads; we’ve been doing things like this for years. We’re always looking for a better, cheaper fix.”
Pinotti said it used to cost up to $100,000 to coat her roads.
“It’s costing the precinct about $32,000 for this,” she added.
She also said the Road Overcoat, unlike many seal coats, can be applied in cold weather.
Leadabrand said the environmental element, the safety of the compound, is especially important considering its use in close proximity to Lake Jacksonville.
