Frequently Asked Questions

Voters approved Measure K in November 2012 which increased the local sales tax by one cent (or 1%), effective July 1, 2013 for 20 years. Currently, all funds collected from the sales tax increase go towards street improvements in Moraga. Additionally, the Town has secured a CalRecycling grant to use recycled rubber tires mixed into the final asphalt overlay.

The Town has approximately $1.2 million of annual Measure K funds for the pavement management program but needs $2.2 million to maintain the current average pavement condition for the entire Town. Unfortunately, not all streets will be resurfaced.

In order to maximize the Town’s dollars to preserve the Town’s entire network of pavement in the best condition, the Town relies heavily on pavement asset management software to preliminarily select candidate streets for further evaluation.

The goal for selecting streets for this year’s project is to reconstruct streets that are in very poor to failed condition and are in need of a deeper pavement treatment to repair the extensive pavement failures. Your street was selected by our software for this year’s project because it is in very poor to failed condition, which makes it eligible for pavement reconstruction.

A three-week look ahead of construction items, location, and schedule that will be updated on a weekly basis, will be available on the Town website or on the Measure K Facebook page for daily updates.

Additionally, construction notification signs will be placed on the street approximately five days prior to the start of work. Construction signs will also be placed three days prior to notify residents of parking restrictions.  If the contractor needs to reschedule work on your street, signs will indicate the new work date two days in advance of the rescheduled date.

The roadway reconstruction will consist of both recycling the existing roadway materials in place, a technology called Full Depth Reclamation (FDR), and placing a new layer of asphalt on top. The pavement construction consists of four phases:

1. Pulverizing and Mixing In-Place: During the pulverizing process, full road closure are expected. The existing roadway will be pulverized and mixed in-place to a depth of approximately 12 inches, using large specialty FDR machines, or reclaimers. The older and failed pavement surface will be mixed with underlying fill and native soil to develop a new base material for the reconstructed pavement. This "green" technology reduces the need to off haul dozens of truckloads of roadway material by reusing the existing pavement materials and underlying soils. The technology substantially reduces the need number of truckloads of new material. This recycled material is safe for cars to drive on shortly after the FDR machine has passed through the roadway section. Please drive slowly as there may be loose gravel-like material on the recycled surface. 
2. Material Removal: The next phase is meant to remove some of the mixed recycled material to make room for the new asphalt. The surface will be rough and result in an elevation difference which will be bridged with short, temporary wedges to allow cars and other vehicles to safely drive on the road and into driveways. Please continue to drive slowly as there may be loose gravel-like material on the surface.
3. Re-Mixing with Cement: The remaining recycled material will then be re-mixed with the addition of cement and water in order to stabilize the material, making it a sturdy base for the new pavement section. The surface will be exposed generally up to one week before the first layer of new asphalt is placed. Also, the contractor will sweep any excess material. Although the surface will be fairly smooth at this point in the construction, please continue to drive slowly as there may be loose gravel-like material on the recycled surface.
4. Paving: The asphalt paving phase will require full road closure (8 am to 5 pm). The asphalt overlay is a liquid asphalt binder premixed with aggregate, which is placed and compacted on the street surface. To avoid tracking asphalt material onto your driveways and property, please pay attention to construction signs and wait until the street has been cleared for access. The new pavement on top of the recycled base will be placed in two layers on separate days. 

When driving in construction areas, please pay close attention to all construction signs and directives from construction workers, including speed limits. Please do not park or drive on streets if construction signage indicates that the street will be closed. Driving on streets before they are opened will result in possible defects in the new pavement and pavement materials tracked onto your driveway and home.

Emergency Services

Emergency services will have access to all streets no matter what construction is occurring at all times.

Please contact Public Works and they will direct your concerns to the appropriate Project Manager.