Submitted by San Juan County

San Juan County’s Public Works Department is announcing its annual summer road resurfacing schedule to chip seal nearly 16 miles of roads on San Juan and Orcas Islands. Chip sealing is a pavement treatment that extends the life of the road surface. Learn more by visiting the County Roads Program webpage at https://www.sanjuancountywa.gov/309/County-Roads and see the schedule and map below for a complete list of projects.

Sections of roads to be resurfaced this summer:

The week of May 13 on Orcas Island: Orcas Rd, Killebrew Lake Rd, LaPorte Rd, Dolphin Bay Rd, Enchanted Forest Rd, Terri Ln, Michael Ln, Sunset Ave, Matia View Dr, Olga Cemetery Rd, Buoy Bay Rd, Willis Ln. Only sections of these roads will be resurfaced – see the map below or linked here for more details.

The week of June 3 on San Juan Island: West Side Rd, Beaverton Valley Rd, Cattle Point Rd, Little Rd. Only sections of these roads will be resurfaced – see the map below or linked here for more details.

Lopez and Shaw Islands are not part of the 2024 chip seal program. Public Works will continue to monitor the condition of roads and address problems as needed.

This schedule is dependent on weather, among other factors, and may be subject to change. San Juan County asks drivers to exercise caution when traveling through construction zones and to plan extra time for their commute in case of delays.

Remember, please drive slowly on freshly surfaced chip seal roads:

For their safety: you are driving through an active construction zone – obey flaggers and posted traffic signs.

For your safety: during the first week excessive speeds may kick up loose rock into oncoming traffic.

It’s your road: chip seal overlays perform best when vehicle speeds are reduced while the pavement cures.

Wear and tear are natural for surfaces incurring regular traffic, harsh weather, and use by multi-ton vehicles. San Juan County develops and maintains a multi-year plan to preserve roads in the most cost-effective way and uses best practices to help keep rides smooth and safe for drivers.