Chip-sealing is thrifty

I commend the city of Spokane for stepping up to the plate and chip-sealing streets in Spokane, as done by agencies throughout the nation to preserve good roads with great results. The days are gone when we just sit by and let roads fail before we do something, resulting in higher costs to taxpayers.

As the past president of the Northwest Pavement Management Association, recipient of Pavement Manager of the year award, and with over 22 years of experience in this field, I can tell you that the city of Spokane is giving the appropriate treatments to its streets with the resources they have. Preservation of good streets should be a tool in every agency’s tool box. Constructed properly, chips seals can extend the life of pavements that in return save money used to rebuild roads in bad shape.

With dwindling road budgets and failing roads, doesn’t it make sense to use the most cost-effective decision?

Howard Hamby

Spokane