Kellogg to resume resealing redone roads

KELLOGG — Beginning next month, the city of Kellogg will begin a resurfacing project for all streets north of Interstate 90.

In June, the city council approved more than $940,000 for resurfacing the Sunnyside area, with Cameron Avenue and Hill Street being chipsealed and remaining streets, all residential, receiving a slurry seal.

The money for the resurfacing project is generated through the city’s local option, non-property tax, commonly referred to as a bed or resort tax. The impetus behind this tax comes from the short-term renting of any of Kellogg’s many hotel rooms and vacation rental homes such as AirBnB and VRBO. For the past seven years, those short-term rentals had been taxed at a 3.5% rate, which wasn’t enough to stay on track with the scheduled resurfacing necessary.

Earlier this year, the city was able to pass an increase to its local option tax, bumping it from 3.5 to 5.5% and allowing the project to get back on track.

When the city replaced all its roads between 2015 and 2018, the plan was to put city streets on a five-year chipseal cycle to lessen the blow to the asphalt layer. The road project was paid for by the Environmental Protection Agency, which mandated the city maintain a barrier of roadway between the vehicles driving on the roads and the contaminated soils below the road if they were going to spend the money replacing the roads.

According to Kellogg Public Works Director Mike Fitzgerald, the project begins Monday, Aug. 7 and continues until completion or weather-related shutdown.

Chipseals and slurry seals help waterproof the pavement, provide a skid-resistant surface and give new life to weathered asphalt. Chipsealing can only be done when temperatures are at least 70 degrees. Slurry seal may be applied when both the pavement and air temperatures are above 45 degrees.

Post Falls-based company POE Asphalt is doing the chipseal. Boswell Asphalt Paving Solutions from Meridian will do the slurry seal.

“In advance of the contracted work, Kellogg’s Public Works Department staff will be preparing the roads by completing curb line weed abatement and sealing of large pavement cracks,” Fitzgerald said. “The Public Works Department will be providing door-to-door notices in advance of the work.”

Construction is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to speed the project and minimize traffic impact.

“The work includes pre-sweeping, materials placement, post-sweeping and application of fog sealing,” Fitzgerald said. “Normal travel and access will be interrupted for about four days as work is conducted. There will be flagmen, pilot cars and other workers directing traffic to ensure the safe passage of all citizens and the safety of workers. The city advises to expect some delays and temporary closures and to choose alternate routes, if possible.”

During the work, street parking will not be permitted and the city also asks that residents give the streets at least two days to cure before they resume parking along the streets.

“In advance, the city thanks its businesses and residents for understanding the need for maintaining our roads and their patients during the time of construction,” Fitzgerald said. “In the end, we all want our local roads to remain in excellent condition.”

For more information or if you have any questions, please contact the city of Kellogg Public Works Department at (208) 786-9131.