The City of San Diego is taking decisive action to improve street conditions across multiple communities through the Transportation Department’s slurry seal program. This initiative is set to benefit areas including Skyline Hills, Paradise Hills, Otay Mesa, Encanto, and Eastern San Diego. The slurry seal method is a cost-effective way to maintain city streets, as clearly detailed in an official statement from the city, which was published by the City of San Diego.
Residents can expect to encounter several phases of roadwork that may take days or even weeks to complete. According to the city’s Transportation Department, more than 380 lane miles of roadway were treated with slurry seal last fiscal year alone. This year, seven slurry seal projects have been earmarked for completion before the fiscal year ends on June 30, 2026. The first of these, Slurry Seal Project 2621, is already underway and is anticipated to run through February, weather permitting.
The slurry seal process is straightforward yet effective, involving the application of a mixture of asphalt emulsion, sand, and rock at an average thickness of approximately a quarter inch. This helps extend the life of streets that are currently in good condition. The comprehensive list of roads selected for resurfacing is extensive, including thoroughfares such as Thorn Street, Castana Street, and San Jacinto Drive, among many others.
The selection of streets for this preservation work is not random but strategic. A Pavement Management Plan set the criteria, taking into consideration the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score for each street. The PCI score, which reflects pavement roughness and the extent of cracks, is just one of the factors considered by the city. Traffic volumes, transit connections, and available funding also play a crucial role in determining which streets will receive attention. For residents curious about the condition of their own neighborhood streets, the city has made PCI scores and maps of planned street repairs accessible via the StreetsSD website.
The 2023 Pavement Condition Assessment serves as a guide for funding these projects. This document offers a snapshot of current street conditions in San Diego and outlines the resources required to enhance the city’s overall street network.
