News Summary
San Antonio has temporarily halted a pilot project involving a spray-on coating for street repairs after residents voiced significant concerns. The coating has caused issues, particularly in the Jean Unser neighborhood, where residents reported streets becoming sticky and clumping. Despite positive results in other areas, complaints about peeling and surface damage have emerged. The city has invested $1.7 million in the project and withheld payments pending further investigation. Public Works officials continue to evaluate the approach as residents express frustrations regarding ongoing repair costs.
San Antonio has paused a pilot project that aimed to utilize a spray-on coating for street repairs after residents reported significant issues with the new method. Complaints arose from a far northside neighborhood where residents described their streets becoming a sticky and gooey mess, prompting the city’s Public Works Department to take action.
The spray-on pavement, designed to be a cheaper alternative to traditional repaving, was tested on dozens of streets across the city. Generally, the pilot program performed well in various neighborhoods, but notable issues emerged within the community of Jean Unser. Residents reported that the coating clumped together and became problematic, sticking to shoes and car tires.
One resident detailed how the treated road appeared wet and gooey just a day after the application, with additional complaints of peeling occurring as garbage trucks traveled over the surface. A neighbor with knowledge of classic road resurfacing shared insights into the preparations taken—or not taken—in the application process, suggesting that insufficient groundwork contributed to the issues.
In light of the complaints, the contractor responsible for the spray-on application, American Road Maintenance, attempted several repairs on the affected streets and issued apologies to homeowners via their Ring cameras. A crew member from the company acknowledged that the heavy trucks were responsible for the peeling of the coating, and reassured residents of their commitment to remedying the situation.
Frustration among residents grew as they reflected on the considerable money spent on road repairs within their cul-de-sac over a short period of time. Many expressed disappointment in what they viewed as a failed project, especially given the innovative hopes tied to the spray-on technique.
To date, the city has invested approximately $1.7 million in the spray-on project, which aimed to repair a total of 47 streets. However, Public Works officials confirmed that they have withheld payment of $17,000 for work on the two streets that encountered problems, pending resolution of the complaints and ongoing investigations into the project’s effectiveness.
The Public Works Department reiterated that the project aligns with its Pavement Preservation Program, which is focused on testing various products for street maintenance to find cost-effective solutions for the city. Despite the issues faced in Jean Unser’s neighborhood, the department is committed to evaluating the performance of different street treatments to ensure quality and longevity in road repairs.
Local residents have raised concerns regarding the costs associated with frequent repairs that undermine the purported savings from innovative solutions like the spray-on coating. As the city continues to investigate and address the issues, further assessments may be necessary to determine the viability of similar pavement solutions in the future.
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Additional Resources
- News4SanAntonio: City Spends $1.7 Mil on Roadway Coating
- Wikipedia: Jean Unser Neighborhood
- Community Impact: Hollywood Park Street Repair Projects
- Google Search: San Antonio Public Works Department
- Express News: Downtown San Antonio Road Construction
- Google Scholar: Spray-on Pavement Technology
- News4SanAntonio: San Antonio’s Pothole Patrol
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Street Maintenance
- FoxSanAntonio: Pothole Patrol Blitz
- Google News: Spray-on Road Coating Project
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
