Austin News

The work of Street and Bridge Operations (SBO) goes right to the heart of what we do at Transportation and Public Works — creating, maintaining and improving the network on which most Austinites move around.

"All the things people enjoy about Austin are connected by our right of way — streets, sidewalks, urban trails, bridges," says Reiner Hershaw, Interim Assistant Director of SBO. "Things that allow emergency responders to get where they need go, allow people to get to Barton Springs, to walk down South Congress, all those cool experiences."

One project most Austinites will probably see from SBO this summer and through October is sealcoating. With sealcoat, crews spray an oil mixture on the road, followed by spreading and rolling a gravel mixture into place. Finally, they sweep up excess gravel, resulting in a smoother surface that eliminates the hairline cracks that lead to potholes.

MORE | View photos and videos of the sealcoating process

As our summer temperatures soar, the work of SBO gets ever more challenging. SBO presses on with its work but keeps employees safe.

“We have pretty early start times," says Hershaw. "Our crews are typically in position to start construction at 7 a.m. so they can get everything ready."

We need you to keep them safe as well — please keep an eye out for SBO work crews and drive slowly and cautiously when you encounter them. The Interactive Street Maintenance Map shows the streets scheduled for service this summer and the type of treatment planned. You can report street surface issues and potholes via Austin 3-1-1.

Original source can be found here.