Editor's Note: This letter, to David Whiting, is in response to a letter from Whiting printed in the July 27 issue of this newspaper.

Your concerns regarding the recent chip seal preventive maintenance on Fairmount Avenue Southwest were forwarded to me for field review and consideration.

I have visited the location and consulted with appropriate staff members, as I understand that you are concerned about the effect of chip seal maintenance on bicyclists, as well as the speed humps that the community worked hard to implement last year.

Chip seal streets start to deteriorate, on the average, within five - seven years. We have found that periodic resealing extends the life of the pavement and can head off indefinitely much more expensive and extensive repair work. Fairmount Avenue Southwest is part of a bigger area that is chip sealed about every 10 years. Our records indicate that this street was last chip sealed in 1995.

Seattle Department of Transportation's crew chief for the chip seal program field-checked every street scheduled for chip seal in this area, including Fairmount Avenue Southwest, as part of the preparation and evaluation process. Necessary repairs were made earlier this year during the spring, prior to resealing.

Due to your concerns, Pauh Wang of Seattle Department of Transportation's Bicycle Program, visited this street to make his evaluation at my request. As a result, Seattle Department of Transportation installed a warning sign on top of the hill, at SW

Forest Street. The sign will remain until the road is returned to a condition that works for bicyclists.

Pauh had also inquired about the sweeping of this street. A mechanical sweeper will remove the excess rock from this street within the next day or two, and perhaps today as I've requested. The sweeping is a normal part of the chip seal program. If any additional sweeping is needed, please let me know.

In regard to the speed humps that the community had cooperatively raised funds and worked hard to build through the Neighborhood Matching Fund, I have talked to Theresa Smith, supervisor of the Neighborhood Traffic Section, about your concerns. I will work with her, and please be reassured that any pavement markings that may have been covered as a result of the resurfacing work will be replaced.

We are sorry for any inconvenience that you have experienced as a result of the project. After the chip seal has cured and hardened, and the roadway has been swept, the surface will look just like before, but it will be more durable because of the fresh layer of resealing.

Susan Almachar

Seattle Department of Transportation