The provincial Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure is working this year to improve 510 kilometres of provincial roads and highways through pavement sealing. The sealing, which helps to extend the lifespan of the roadways, will come at a price tag of just over $20 million.  

"Seal-coating is an effective and useful tool in all areas of the province," Minister of Highways Fred Bradshaw said.  "This method takes just a few days and lasts 10 years - a worthwhile investment in our provincial highway network." 

Pavement sealing is different from repaving. The sealing sees a layer of an oil-based substance applied to the road surface, and then a layer of gravel. The mixture then cures for 24 hours, and the gravel is swept away and collected to be used at a different site. 

Areas that are undergoing pavement sealing are considered to be full construction sites. This means reduced speeds are needed, and the fines for speeding in them are tripled. The construction zone rules are in place even when workers are not present to also protect drivers and their vehicles, as speeding on the mixture can cause damage to windshields, body panels and tires.