Street work on Roop needs to be redone

Recent work to improve a portion of North Roop Street had the opposite effect and needs to be corrected, according to Carson City officials.

The section of Roop between Northridge Drive and Winnie Lane was sealed about a week ago as part of the city's seasonal street maintenance program. This and other work was awarded to Sparks-based Sierra Nevada Construction earlier this year.

"We didn't accept it," said John Benzing, the city's construction manager, about the section. "It's rough and vibratory, it feels like a washboard."

It was part of a more extensive work contract worth about $780,000.

No other problems have been detected by city officials with road work done by Sierra on other local streets. The improvement method used on that section of Roop was different, however, Benzing said.

Instead of applying the more common slurry seal, Sierra tried microsurfacing, a method that dries more quickly than slurry because the mixture is colder.

It was developed for use on high-traffic streets and freeways, designed for locations where the ability to complete work quickly is crucial. The method is also used to fill ruts and is preferred for application during times of extreme heat or cold.

"It was an experiment for us," Benzing said. "It was the only area where microsurfacing was used."

The city doesn't do the work but inspects it after it's complete. The company has used microsurfacing in other communities without complaints, he said.

City officials expect to know what Sierra will do to rectify the problem within days, though the method still hasn't been decided. The city would prefer to see it fixed by Aug. 20, when their contract with the city runs out, but it may not be feasible because the deadline is fast approaching.

"We're not paying for it until we're satisfied," said Andy Burnham, the city's public works director.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.