EPHRATA — The Ephrata City Council unanimously accepted as complete the Crack Seal and Pavement Repair Project – 2024 during its regular meeting Wednesday. The project, which was started last year and completed this spring, was awarded to Quality Paving, LLC and totaled $415,686.75. Crews repaired sections of about 50 streets.

“There are streets addressed all around town, and chip sealing is one of your best tools for preserving your pavement,” City Engineer Shawn O’Brien said in an interview with the Columbia Basin Herald. “It provides a new wearing surface for the cars to drive on, but it also preserves the existing pavement that breaks down and gets oxidized after years of use. This new shot of oil and chips protect that and kind of rejuvenates the existing payment.”

The council’s acceptance of this project allows for the filing of a Notice of Completion with state agencies, marking the end of a maintenance period for the improvements.

“This project, we addressed some of the city’s worst roads that were nearing the point where they’re beyond repair and we’re going to have to be replaced and reconstructed, and the reconstruction process is at least 10 times the cost per mile or per foot, and so we were able to do this work at a fraction of the cost that it would have been to replace the roads,” O’Brien said.

Council members emphasized the importance of the project, acknowledging its benefits to the community by enhancing roadway quality and safety for residents. In its resolution, the council formally agreed to accept the improvements and initiate the contract closeout process.