Pavement Preservation Program

As roadways deteriorate, the likelihood of potholes, cracks, and other road imperfections, that affect driving conditions, increases. To help ensure smoother, safer driving conditions, the city administers a proactive pavement maintenance program, including:

• Street Sweeping
• Pothole patching
• ADA ramp construction
• Fog Seal
• Crack Fill treatment
• Micro Seal resurfacing application
• Road Hot Mix Asphalt Mill & Overlay
• 5-Year Paving Plan

Street Sweeping

City street sweepers clean-up 26,000 miles of city-maintained roads and multiuse paths per year, about 35 miles per day. Street sweepers use regenerative air systems which means the equipment does not release polluted air or debris into the atmosphere. Street sweeping improves air quality and overall roadway safety for automobiles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

To request street sweeping service near your home or business submit a request online via the Scottsdale EZ portal.

Request Street Sweeping Service

Pothole Patching

To request pothole patching please submit a request online via the Scottsdale EZ portal. A repair work order will be created within 48 hours of your request.

Request Pothole Patching

ADA Ramp Construction

ADA improvements are included in all street improvement, pavement maintenance, and developer-driven projects. Scottsdale’s Pavement Management staff evaluates, upgrades and constructs ADA infrastructure as part of each paving project. In 2022 the city paved 98 miles of roadway, including 780 new and upgraded ADA ramps along sidewalks and roads.

Fog Seal

A fog seal acts as a pavement conditioner and helps protect roadways from environmental conditions while improving the overall appearance of the surface. During fog seal treatments, a thin layer of asphalt emulsion is applied to streets; the coating helps extend the life of the asphalt and delay major road repairs. The coating is quick to apply and is typically dry and ready for vehicle and foot traffic in 1-3 hours.

Scottsdale will begin incorporating fog seal application into the city’s pavement preservation program in mid-2025.

Crack Fill

Crack fill treatments are an important part of the paving maintenance regimen. While most consider crack fill to be unsightly, the material is cost-effective and helps prevent moisture from penetrating cracks in asphalt and damaging the road foundation. Crack filling is typically a pre-treatment to a micro seal application which provides a smooth roadway with a consistent finish.

A micro seal coating helps extend the life of asphalt streets when only the road surface requires attention. The product is ideal for roadways with intact foundations and delays the need for costly reconstruction. Treated roadways provide a smoother and safer ride for vehicles and enhanced curb appeal for homeowners.

Micro seal surfaces are typically open to foot traffic within a half hour after application and vehicular traffic within eight hours of application. Project areas and boundaries determine road restrictions associated with the construction. Micro seal material cures best in cooler temperatures and is applied annually in the spring and fall.

View Micro Seal Flyer (PDF)

Watch Micro Seal Project Videos:

Road Resurfacing also known as Mill & Overlay is the most extensive approach to maintenance and is also the most expensive. This technique is typically used when road surfaces have reached their end of life and preventative treatments are no longer beneficial.

View Mill and Overlay Flyer (PDF)

The process includes grinding up and removing the top layer of asphalt and road preparation and repair before placing a new layer of asphalt or hot mix onto the roadbed. The asphalt cures quickly and is typically ready for foot traffic in only a few hours and ready for vehicular traffic in 24 hours. Project areas and boundaries determine road closures and restrictions associated with the construction.

Watch Mill and Overlay Project Videos:

Scottsdale's Pavement Preservation crews repair and pave streets throughout the city based on a multi-year Paving Plan. The plan prioritizes streets with the lowest pavement condition index scores and helps determine the best pavement option for the roadway: micro seal application or hot-mix asphalt pavement. In 2025 the city will complete a comprehensive inventory of roadway assets using state-of-the-art technology to evaluate the condition of the roadway network. Data collected will be used to determine the city's paving scheduling and treatment type.

Work is typically scheduled on weekdays only between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend work will be scheduled if needed.

Streets are typically reduced to one lane in each direction during project work hours. Business Access signs will be posted during construction. Please use caution when traveling near work zones, follow detour signs and plan ahead to avoid delays.

The city’s pavement maintenance program is funded by the Transportation sales tax.