McHenry County Blog

It seems that there are two sealants for asphalt driveways:

• coal tar
• asphalt-based sealants

In Lake in the Hills 89% of the driveways are sealed with coal tar.

The dangerous chemical is benzo(a)pyrene.

“… researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey found that driveway dust,” according to the Chicago Tribune, contained “…5,300 times higher than the level that triggers an EPA Superfund cleanup at polluted industrial sites.”

Tribune reporter Michael Hawthorne wrote,

“In Lake in the Hills, officials posted a one-page brochure at Village Hall outlining the difference between coal tar- and asphalt-based sealants. The village stopped using coal tar sealants on its own property but declined to ban them outright.

“‘We’ve already solved the problem,’ said Gerald Sagona, the village administrator.”

The drop in the price of oil has allowed Crystal Lake, McHenry County and other road repairers to lay lots of macadam this summer.

Old asphalt on Dole Avenue between Route 14 and West Crystal Lake Avenue has been removed, for instance.

But we know whose residents rate highest.

While McHenry Avenue and Dole saw their asphalt removed pretty much the same day, McHenry between Route 14 and West Crystal Lake Avenue is already repaved.

Dole Avenue travelers have seen repaving north of Crystal Lake Avenue and south of Route 14.

Between Route 14 and Crystal Lake Avenue, the old railroad right-of-way is still in shambles. Holes in parts of it have already been patched, awaiting the replacement layers of asphalt.

That’s what people who take Walkup Avenue across Route 176 are telling me.

How long is it going to be before the two inches of asphalt are laid?

How long must traffic slow to a crawl, not once, but twice, in order to minimize damage to one’s tires?

IDOT, where are you?

That’s what people who take Walkup Avenue across Route 176 are telling me.

How long is it going to be before the two inches of asphalt are laid?

How long must traffic slow to a crawl, not once, but twice, in order to minimize damage to one’s tires?

IDOT, where are you?