Leland Yee: It's Not Pavement Art

San Francisco has always been a city of artisans, craftspeople, engineers and others who contribute their talents to the fabric of our city. Our streets are representative of the city's people and cultures.

District 4 (Sunset/Parkside) has several high-traffic-volume streets, including Lincoln Way, Great Highway, Sloat Boulevard and 19th Avenue. Sunset Boulevard bisects District 4 from north to south and the SF Muni light-rail system certainly impacts Judah and Taraval streets.

There are also lower impact streets, including many of the avenues, and most of the streets from Irving to Wawona.

The major corridors receive the greatest attention from the City because of their high traffic volume and constant need of repair. However, other streets are no less important.

Over the last year, I have had the SF Department of Public Works repair and improve the less-traveled streets in District 4.

A program known as Slurry Sealing has been underway for the last 10 months on portions of Lawton and Vicente streets and 33rd, 34th, 40th, 41st and 42nd avenues. The process involves filling street cracks with a black sealant composed of recycled, rubberized asphalt. This mixture is applied hot and leaves a pattern of thick lines in the street that may resemble ugly skid marks. Some of these sealed areas are not yet covered with the final coat of Slurry Seal.

Slurry Seal is a mixture of fine rock and sand that guards against water penetration. These remaining final coats will be applied starting in March 2002 when the weather begins to warm. Most Slurry Seal applications last for five years.

The initial program called for 55 blocks to be Slurry Sealed at a cost of $2,500 per block.

I have been able to identify an additional $362,500 for street repairs in District 4, meaning we can repair an additional 145 blocks in District 4. But I need your help to identify where these additional repairs are most needed. Please contact me (e-mail: Yee@BOS/SF/GOV) and I will ask the Department of Public Works to assess the additional suggestions and add those most in need to the current list.

Last month, I forgot to recognize the Parkside District Improvement Club for all its hard work. My apologies.

Leland Yee is a member of the SF Board of Supervisors representing District 4.