A little more than two weeks after suspending "tar and chips" road maintenance in Allegheny County because of problems with the emulsified oil, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has resumed the program.

PennDOT said recent failures traced to materials have been resolved and that it's using a different vendor to supply the quick-setting oil.

"Seal-coating is a routine maintenance activity vital to our transportation infrastructure and it's essential that we move forward with the program," District 11 Executive Dan Cessna said. "We have taken the necessary steps to ensure the best interests of the (state) and traveling public are put first."

PennDOT suspended the preventive maintenance procedure early this month after 18.3 miles of secondary roads had already been sealed. Clumps of material came loose, creating the kinds of surface potholes that tar and chips are supposed to prevent. In addition, the oil failed to set up and bled through the small stone aggregates.

PennDOT had road workers spread sand and patched some of the worst places, including Oakdale Road and several roads in West Mifflin.

A total of 132 miles of state-maintained asphalt roads in the county are to be sealed this season to preserve pavement life by keeping moisture from penetrating, especially during winter freeze-thaw cycles.

The program resumed today and is to continue this week on Bettis Road in West Mifflin, Bellbridge Road in Liberty and River Road in Forward.