Section of Phoenix’s cool pavement project peels off roadway after heavy weekend rain

PHOENIX — A section of sealing in Phoenix’s cool pavement project didn’t react well to heavy rain that fell over the weekend, causing a mess for residents.

The stretch from 17th to 15th avenues and McDowell Road to Encanto Boulevard peeled off the roadway as a result of the moisture, the city said Monday.

City staff started an initial cleanup with street sweepers but a permanent solution is still needed. Phoenix said it has spoken with affected residents.

Rain gauges in the area saw nearly an inch of precipitation over the weekend, but Phoenix said it wasn’t the first cool pavement issue in the neighborhood.

The Phoenix Street Transportation Department applied a seal coat treatment in the area over the summer that didn’t stick to the street.

The affected streets were retreated in the fall with a new mixture consisting of water, asphalt, polymers and filler minerals that worked in other areas.

There haven’t been reports of problems with the mixture in any other parts of the 73 miles of roadway it has been installed in since the program began in 2020.

Phoenix selected eight neighborhoods — one in each City Council district — to receive the pavement treatment as part of the pilot project.

Cool pavement is designed to reflect sunlight and reduce heat retention, which in turn lowers temperatures during hot summer days.

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