College Area neighbors call road repairs a 'rocky and mediocre' fix

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The City of San Diego's Transportation Department has implemented new street resurfacing methods and work is currently underway in several communities.

The new slurry-like methods consist of two treatments called cape seal and scrub seal. The two are commonly used treatments, yet new to San Diego. The city says the treatment will help prolong the life of roads further down the road by filling cracks, protecting against moisture incursion and potholes.

For some residents near the College Area, however, the scrub seal treatment along Baylor Drive is rough, uneven and considered a poor use of their tax dollars.

“It reminds me of something like mediocrity and nihilism came together here to make these streets," said resident Blake Fisher, who has lived in the area for 12 years. “This update is more of a kind of a downgrade unfortunately.” 

The scrub seal pavement treatment is not the usual fix here in San Diego, but a more cost-effective treatment made up of asphalt emulsion followed by a layer of crushed rock that is swept with a broom into small cracks over the roadway. After curing for one day, a layer of fog seal is applied.

“We’re filling in cracks, potholes, making it smoother, bringing back the flexibility," said Anthony Santacroce with the City of San Diego.

The city says Baylor Drive was one of many chosen based off an evaluation called a Pavement Condition Index or PCI. Right now, San Diego has a score of 63, which falls shortly under the industry standard of 70.

“Scrub seal can come in and resurface that road without having to wait and replan a longer more laborious more costly road resurfacing application," Santacroce explained.

For Roger Engelhardt, the new pavement is uneven. He referred to it as "the last thing you would think would end up in front of your house in San Diego."

In a statement regarding residential concerns along Baylor Drive, the city said:

"Our engineers have inspected the work on Baylor Drive and found no issues with the quality of the work on that street. They are also onsite overseeing the contractor for the duration of work. The scrub seal treatment will look different than the typical slurry seal treatment that residents are used to, but it is a cost-effective treatment for streets that have moderate distresses that are in too poor of a condition for a slurry seal but not poor enough for the more expensive asphalt overlay treatment. Prior to the start of work, residents received flyers regarding the type of work and application." Anthony Santacroce, City of San Diego