EPHRATA — The city of Ephrata started crack sealing Monday to help extend the life of several of its streets. After crack-sealing is completed, the city will then seal-coat some streets.

“We clean out all the cracks, basically blowing air to get all the dirt, dust and weeds out of the way. Then they inject a rubber in there that dries and fills those cracks and helps keep them waterproofed,” City Administrator Ray Towry said. “The crack-sealing and seal coat are designed to extend the life of the roads. We are doing this to buy us some time on our roads because they have deteriorated so badly and we can’t afford to completely replace them.”

The city had budgeted $100,000 for 2026 for crack seal work with the city engineer estimating the work would cost around $101,000. The city received 12 bids by Jan. 29. At the Feb. 4 Ephrata City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved a contract with Base Crew, LLC for $77,000 to complete around 200,000 feet of cracks on various streets around the city. This will be paid out of the city’s transportation budget.

“There may be roads that get crack-sealed that don’t need a seal coat,” Towry said. “The road may be in good shape but there is a crack or two. We don’t want water to get in there and make it worse. That is why we are doing these repairs. We are trying to extend the lifespan of the roads.”

After crack sealing is completed this spring, the city will move into seal coating.

At the Apr. 1 Ephrata City Council meeting, the council approved a contract with Sierra Santa Fe Corporation for nearly $574,000. The city received a Transportation Improvement Board grant which would cover up to $615,000. The city engineer had originally estimated the costs at around $665,000, with the city budgeting around $669,000 for the project.

The city will be focused on repairing Alder Street Northwest, Alder Street Southwest, Third Avenue Northeast, A Street Southeast, First Avenue Northwest, Frey Road, Airport Street and Railroad Street.

“We are doing the best we can, with the revenues we have,” Towry said. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any less expensive as time goes on but it’s the band aid we have for now.”

Crack sealing locations

NW Section

Cyrus Road NW – From 1st Ave NW to end of pavement

Fairview St NW – From Cyrus Rd NW to west end of pavement

Fairview Pl NW – From Fairview St NW to Cyrus Rd NW

Frey Rd NW – From 8th Ave NW to city limits

7th Ave NW – From Frey Rd NW to F St NW

Columbia Rd NW – From 1st Ave NW to Mocliff Rd NW

Columbia Circle NW – From Columbia Rd NW to cul-de-sac

C St NW – From 2nd Ave NW to 4th Ave NW

1st Ave NW – From Basin St NW to Sagebrush Flats Rd

4th Ave NW – From C St NW to E St NW

Leslie Rd NW – From Statter Rd NW to west cul-de-sac

Canyon View Ct NW – From Leslie Rd NW to south cul-de-sac

Center Rd NW – From Canal Rd NW to Strand Rd NW

E St NW – From Division Ave W to 1st Ave NW

F St NW – From Division Ave W to 3rd Ave NW

Loma Pl NW – From Mocliff Rd NW to Maringo Rd NW

Mocliff Rd NW – From 1st Ave NW to Statter Rd NW

North Line Rd NW – From Canal Rd NW to West Line Rd NW

Patrick Rd NW – From 1st Ave NW to North Line Rd NW

Roosevelt Blvd NW – From Patrick Rd NW to west end cul-de-sac

Strand Rd NW – From Bell St NW to North Line Rd NW

Vue Crest Rd NW – From West Line Rd NW to North Line Rd NW

West Line Rd NW – From Vue Crest Rd NW to North Line Rd NW

South Line Rd NW – From Patrick Rd NW to West Line Rd NW

NE Section

B St NE – From Nat WA Way to Division Ave E

C St NE – From A St NE to Nob Hill Dr NE

E St NE – From 450 ft north of 3rd Ave NE to 150 ft north of 8th Ave NE

G St NE – From 5th Ave NE to 7th Ave NE

K St NE – From 5th Ave NE to 150 ft north of 8th Ave NE

L St NE – From 135 ft south of 7th Ave NE to 150 ft north of 8th Ave NE

1st Ave NE – From K St NE to 1st Circle NE

1st Circle NE – From 1st Ave NE to south cul-de-sac

2nd Ave NE – From Linda Loop NE to end

5th Ave NE – From G St NE to Ivy St NE

6th Ave NE – From G St NE to Ivy St NE

7th Ave NE – From E St NE to L St NE

8th Ave NE – From E St NE to L St NE

Linda Loop NE – From 2nd Ave NE to 2nd Ave NE (loop)

SE Section

Sports Complex Rd SE – From A St SE to end of pavement

3rd Ave SE – From J St SE to Parkside Loop SE

Grant Dr SE – From Pacific St SE to Hunter St SE

Hunter St SE – From Grant Dr SE to 100 ft south of Sunwest Dr SE

Pacific St SE – From Grant Dr SE to Sunwest Dr SE

Sunwest Dr SE – From Chelan St SE to Hunter St SE

K St SE – From Division Ave to south cul-de-sac

Parkside Loop SE – From 3rd Ave SE to Parkside Pl SE

Parkside Pl SE – From Parkside Loop SE to south cul-de-sac

Enterprise St SE – From 5th Ave SE to Airport St SE

5th Ave SE – From Enterprise St SE to Grumman Ave E

Grumman Ave E – From 5th Ave SE to Airport St SE

SW Section

3rd Ave SW – From Nat WA Way to Basin St SW

3rd Ave SW – From C St SW to F St SW

11th Ave SW – From Basin St SE to C St SW

C St SW – From 7th Ave SW to 11th Ave SW

D St SW – From 5th Ave SW to 6th Ave SW

E St SW – From 1st Ave SW to Division Ave W

Martin Rd NW – From Basin St SW to the bridge

Parkway Blvd SW – From 9th Ave SW to 11th Ave SW