Officials Monday morning celebrated a local company’s contribution to improving Salina streets.

Bergkamp Industries manufactured the first ever continuous micro surfacing paver, and still manufactures it. Company Operating Officer Bill Cooper tells KSAL News that the technology makes it possible to maintain roads with a minimum investment.

The process allows a protective coat to be overlayed on the top of an existing road to protect it from the elements, much like shingles protect a roof.

Coopers says that the method is not only more economical, but it is much quicker. Once the black protective layer is spread, traffic can resume within an hour. He says that the process can only be used, though, on roads that do not need any other surface work or improvements.

A Bergkamp continuous micro surfacing paver was being used Monday on a project on Ash Street in North Salina.