Prince George, B.C.- If the weather holds,  there will be a string of  micro surfacing projects  get underway today.

Microsurfacing is meant to preserve rather than rehabilitate a section of roadway as this process  does not repair cracking, failed asphalt or  fill potholes.

The process  has a machine lay a thin layer of polymer material on the roadway.  This material  will remain  soft for about a  month  as it will take that long for the  material to cure.  During that time,  traffic will  continue to ‘knead’ the product.

Crews will use a broom wrapped in burlap to work the material into the curb areas.

Microsurfacing is  known to work well in residential neighbourhoods, but  has  not  performed well on roadways which experience high traffic volumes.

Microsurfacing is the second least expensive means of road maintenance and is expected to last between 5 and 7 years.

Thirteen  microsurfacing projects are  scheduled for the  area bounded by Massey Drive, Ospika Boulevard and Pinewood.  ( see map below)

In all, the 13 projects are estimated to  cost  $186,000 and  if the weather holds,  should be complete by Friday of this week.