(KMZA)--Nemaha County will try a trial micro-surfacing project as a possible alternative to chip and sealing.

The Nemaha County Commission at their December 15 meeting approved a contact with Vance Brothers, of Kansas City, Missouri, for the micro-surfacing of a 5 ½ mile stretch of Old Highway 9.  

Micro-surfacing is cold-mix pavement preservation treatment used to extend the life of existing asphalt roads by 5 to 7 years. Officials say it reduces life-cycle costs by 25  to 45 percent compared to traditional resurfacing methods.  
County officials say any extra material following the process will be used for blade patching.  

A construction start date has not yet been announced for the  project.