Monroe County Begins Winter Road Preservation, Treats Cudjoe and Keys Roads

Monroe County announced on Dec. 12 that it is carrying forward a multi year pavement preservation effort first launched in spring 2020. County crews began treating roads on Dec. 2 in Cudjoe, Summerland, Ramrod and Little Torch Key, and they also treated roads in Tavernier that were paved in 2020 by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. The program is intended to extend the useful life of recently paved streets and to postpone full resurfacing projects that would be more disruptive and expensive.

The preservation work consists of spraying a liquid rejuvenator on recently paved roads, then applying a light coat of manufactured sand as a blotter to provide short term friction. Crews vacuum swept the sand the following day. County officials said the product is environmentally safe and can be removed from vehicles with soap and water. U.S. 1 was not part of the program and the work will not affect traffic on that arterial route that links the Keys to the mainland.

Local impacts are modest but immediate. Treated neighborhood roads are inaccessible to vehicles for about 30 minutes while the treatment cures. Advance signage was posted in neighborhoods the day before treatment to alert residents and motorists. Emergency access was maintained during operations, and routine services should not be interrupted beyond the brief access windows. Weather permitting, the county estimated the job would take roughly three weeks to complete.

For Monroe County communities that rely on a single main route and tight local networks, keeping side streets in good condition reduces long term costs and helps preserve mobility for residents, deliveries and first responders. The work also reflects sensitivity to the Keys marine environment because the county communicated that the product used is safe and washable. As the county completes this phase, residents can expect similar preservation work to continue under the ongoing program that began in 2020.