Drivers on Palomar Airport Road, El Camino Real and State Street will see fresh pavement starting in early 2027 after the Carlsbad City Council approved a project to resurface more than 45 miles of roads.

The council voted Wednesday, Oct. 7, to move forward with the work, according to the City Manager's Update published Thursday, Oct. 8. Construction is expected to wrap up by fall 2027.

Crews will use slurry seals, asphalt overlays or a combination of both, depending on each road segment's condition. A slurry seal applies a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion and small crushed rock to the surface and can extend a road's useful life by five to seven years. It will not smooth existing bumps or dips. An asphalt overlay adds up to two inches of new material and is used when more substantial work is needed.

City Manager Geoff Patnoe wrote in the update that applying slurry seals proactively can prevent roads from deteriorating to the point where a costlier overlay is required. Patnoe wrote that the approach helps maintain safer surfaces for drivers, cyclists and other road users while making responsible use of taxpayer dollars.

The 45-mile project covers roughly 13% of the city's road network. Carlsbad owned approximately 350 miles of roads as of the city's 2022 Safer Streets Plan, and the city's transportation department evaluates roadway conditions each year to determine which streets need work.

The contract amount and the name of the contractor awarded the work were not included in the update. Individual council member votes were also not listed.

The city's street resurfacing page includes a map of the streets scheduled for work in 2027. Businesses and residents who may be affected will be notified in advance, according to the update.