Discover the Highway Hero: Cape Seal Extends Pavement Lifespan by 8-10 Years

US 127 was an excellent candidate for cape seal, and we were proud to give this roadway a new lease on life. Read on to get all the details on this job and learn how this application can extend the life of pavement by 8-10 years when applied optimally.  

US 127 Project Details  

• Contractor: Evergreen Roadways™    
• Location: US 127, Houghton Lake, MI 
• Application: Overband Crack Seal, Cape Seal: Chip Seal + 20lb Micro Surfacing  

Ideal Use-Case for Cape Seal

For roads in fair to good condition, with mild to moderate cracking, low friction, oxidation, raveling or water damage, cape seal is the hero of the day. Used everywhere from residential streets to rural and urban high-volume highways, cape seal is crafted to preserve pavement longevity. 

By sealing against intrusive moisture and oxidation, cape seal is a great solution in cold climates, such as this highway in Northern Michigan, where freezing and thawing creates heaving in the roads. Cape seal performs better in the winter compared to stand-alone chip seal or Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Ultra-Thin. 

What is Cape Seal? 

In the words of our field foreman Chase Cornell, cape seal is the “best of both worlds”, combining the benefits of chip seal and single-pass micro surfacing in one. 

This two-treatment process begins with a flexible layer of chip seal – an asphalt emulsion covered in aggregate – which has the benefit of sealing moderate cracks, protecting against moisture and providing skid resistance. 

Next is a slurry seal, or in this case, a micro surfacing treatment. This thin layer of liquid polymer asphalt emulsion protects the road from continued oxidation and raveling, binding loose material and restoring the pavement to a uniform black surface. The final result offers not only aesthetic benefits but allows for clearly contrasted restriping and curb reveal – safety essentials. 

Benefits of Cape Seal 

• Cost –  lower cost per application than HMA and reduces life cycle cost by 25% 
• Environmental – reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and energy use by 15% compared to HMA overlay 
• Safety – enhances the safety of the roadway by improving surface friction, allowing skid resistance 
• Time – quick to reopen for traffic, only 1-4 hours after each phase. The application is also fast. On this roadway, the team averaged 4 miles a day. 

Cape seal is especially beneficial for high-traffic roadways such as US 127. With greater traffic volume, having a strong and durable roadway is vital to ensuring the quality of the road and the safety of drivers.  

However, a long-lasting application requires much more than just quality materials. We take pride in our diligent care for every detail of the job. Our team is not only committed to making roads better and last longer; we value safety, sustainability and continually seek innovative solutions.  

Are you ready? We would love to help you pave quality roads that last. 

Let’s Talk.