The City of Geneva will be sealing cracks on about 20 streets starting this week as part of the 2015 road improvement program.

The City seals street cracks to prevent water infiltration into the pavement base, which subsequently extends the road’s life expectancy. All the streets are located within neighborhoods and will not require any lane closures, although motorists should be mindful when driving through work zones.

Crews are expected to start on the west side of Geneva and work their way east. Residents will receive notices a day before work commences on their street. A map of the impacted streets is posted on the City’s website (see link below). The City anticipates sealing as many streets as possible, but there is a chance some roads on the list may have to be completed in 2016.

Geneva Construction, the City’s contractor, will cut a reservoir into the streets, clear the cracks of any loose debris using air pressure and then fill the areas with hot asphalt that hardens quickly. The first two steps of the process can produce loud noises and dust. Residents are advised to keep their windows closed.

The entire program should be finished in about a week, weather permitting. After a street has been sealed, a street sweeper will be brought back the next day to brush the debris to the curb line where it can be vacuumed.

In other construction news, three downtown public parking lots will be closed for resurfacing Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17 to 18. The following lots are scheduled for sealcoating:

• Garden Club Lot – East side of River Lane at Hamilton Street along the Fox River;
• Fulton Street Lot – North of Fulton Street between Third and Fourth streets; and
• High Hat Lot – North of Fulton Street near Second Street.

The sealcoating will take place Aug. 17, and the lots will reopen Aug. 18 after the parking space striping has been completed. If rain enters the forecast, work will resume the next day.

Signs will be posted Wednesday, Aug. 12 alerting people of the upcoming parking lot closures.

For more information, call the City’s Public Works Department at 630-232-1501.