Healthy Roads

Why This Matters Plants growing in the road physically damage chip seal, allow water to penetrate beneath the surface, and worsen with freeze/thaw cycles — all leading to edge loss. Roadside vegetation also intercepts snow thrown by the plow — instead of clearing the road edge and landing in the ditch, snow packs against the pavement edge where vegetation holds it in place. That trapped snow subjects the most sensitive part of the road to repeated freeze-thaw cycles, widening existing cracks and accelerating the edge loss that eventually requires expensive repair. Complete removal by blading and spraying costs pennies. Chip seal repair runs $12+ per square foot with a minimum 2′ patch — surface mowing or cutting back does not address the root system and will not stop recurring damage. All vegetation must be fully removed from the road surface and the immediate roadside edge.