A handful of neighborhood roads around Buckley and Bonney Lake will be improved this month as part of Pierce County’s Residential Resurfacing Program.

Each year, the county identifies roads that can be resurfaced. The goal behind the program is to extend a road’s lifespan by seven to 10 years while also reducing maintenance costs.

Work is expected to begin late next week and take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through the end of the month.

Roads will be addressed with either a “slurry seal” or “cape seal.” The first method involves a thin layer of liquid asphalt and rock applied to the road surface. Roads are generally closed for three to seven hours after an application, depending upon temperature and humidity. With a “cape seal,” liquid asphalt and rock chips are put down, a roller flattens the gravel into place and the road is then swept clean of loose rocks. The road remains open during the process, but crews return a couple of weeks later to do a slurry seal.

Neighborhood residents could be significantly impacted by the work, so both the county and the project contractor will be giving advance notice. A county spokeswoman said employees will blanket neighborhoods three to five days in advance of road work, placing “door hangars” that detail a timeline and scope of expected work. A second piece of information will be distributed a day or two later by the contractor. Additionally, the county’s website will be updated once an exact schedule is known.

Here’s a list of neighborhoods to be treated in this region. Maps are available by visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/resurfacing.

• the Sunrise Estates and Finlandia developments, both accessed by 234th Avenue East;

• a small loop off Connells Prairie Road that includes 222nd and 225th Avenues, plus cross streets;

• two developments sitting just east of South Prairie Road – one on the north side of 112th Street East, one on the south side;

• a development that occupies a large triangle of acreage bordered by 214th Avenue on the west, 112th on the north and South Prairie Road on the east;

• a large part of Prairie Ridge sitting just south of 120th Street East, plus 218th Avenue Court East on the north side of 120th;

• a small loop extending east off of 214th, consisting of 121st and 122nd;

• a long and narrow neighborhood running south from 112th Street (east of 234th), including 240th and 241st;

• a large neighborhood with two access roads onto 234th Avenue East, all sitting north of 120th;

• a rural neighborhood accessed by 92nd Street East, all sitting just west of 230th Avenue East;

• a loop of roads just south of Sumner, immediately east of state Route 162 and south of Pioneer Way;

• two adjacent neighborhoods accessed by Falling Water Boulevard, south of Rhodes Lake Road.

During resurfacing work, the county asks that area residents do not park on roads; additionally, things like basketball hoops and garbage cans should be removed and water should be kept from running into the road.

Anyone wishing more information can call 253-798-6000 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.