The micro surfacing program in Calgary has begun!

A freshly microsurfaced roadway in Calgary

Blink and you might miss it. The City of Calgary’s microsurfacing program is already underway and should be completed in early September. Residents in the communities of Beddington and Falconridge will notice a new surface on several roads in their neighbourhoods over the coming weeks. Micro surfacing systems restore and preserve roadways that meet specific criteria prior to treatment.

What is Micro Surfacing?

Over time, even the best surfaces are subject to wear and tear caused by traffic and weather. Micro surfacing is the application of a special coating to the top layer of asphalt that prevents oxidization and moisture penetration. It is a cost effective preservation treatment to slow down the natural degreation of the road and preserve service life without a costly and disruptive reconstruction.

A specialized machine mixes and applies the coating in one pass, and the treatment takes between two and three hours to cure, meaning that a road that is being microsurfaced can be reopened to drivers just a few hours after work has been completed. The micro surface will reach its full strength within 72 hours of being completed.

Micro surfacing versus traditional paving

There are several benefits to microsurfacing compared to traditional paving, including:

• It is a cost-effective process and extends the service life of the road between five to eight years, depending on traffic volume.
• It has low energy requirements, making it environmentally friendly. It is also 100% recyclable. 
• The newly microsurfaced roadway can be opened to traffic within two hours.

What can you do to help?

If you live in the communities of Beddington or Falconridge, and see signs indicating your road is scheduled for microsurfacing treatment, please help us complete this work quickly and effectively by:

• Adhering to all no parking signs and ensure all vehicles are removed from the roadway prior to treatment.
• Do not drive or walk on the freshly coated micro surface before it has cured, and do not enter roadway until the barricades and signs have been removed by the contractor.
• Please refrain from using lawn sprinklers spray water onto the roadway immediately before and during work activity.
• Once traffic is allowed, try to avoid turning your steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary (dry steering) on the freshly micro surfaced road as it could damage the fresh surface.

For more information on The City of Calgary’s micro surfacing program, visit Calgary.ca/microsurfacing