The City of Humboldt will spend around $50,000 this fall on a microsurfacing pilot project on the 600 and 700 blocks of 9th Street.

Microsurfacing is a type of aggregate similar to asphalt but is applied in thinner layers. It protects roads from water infiltration to extend their lifespan by about 10 years.

That section of 9th Street is busy with a good structure, and the city isn't ready to replace the water main, public works director Peter Bergquist said.

City staff haven't used the product before, so the city has hired West-Can Seal Coating Inc. of Didsbury, Alberta, which does work for other communities and the highways ministry.

After this small-scale project is complete and staff are more experienced, the city will tender out larger projects.

The 700 block of 9th Street will receive $23,000 worth of frost heave repairs, pavement patching and sand slurry sealing.

City Council has also approved a $326,570.64 bid from Brockman Enterprises for the 2018 gravel tender program.

The budgeted locations include:

  • Peck Road from the tracks to 5th Avenue
  • 13th Street from 11th Avenue to the north end of the 1200 block
  • 3rd Street water main replacement
  • 6th Avenue water main replacement
  • Canada Place water main replacement
  • 9th Avenue water main replacement