The Indiana Department of Transportation announces chip seal operations on State Road 47 between the east side of Thorntown and U.S. 52. Beginning on or after Tuesday, September 2, crews will close this section of roadway to complete a chip seal operation.
All work is anticipated to be completed around 4 days, but is weather-dependent and subject to change.
Crews will place barricades and signage at the ends of the project, to alert the traveling public. INDOT suggests finding alternative routes during the duration of the chip sealing operation.
Work is completed under a full closure, to prevent damage to both vehicles and the roadway. During operations existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the life of the surface of the roadway by 7-10 years and lowers maintenance costs. Once the seal coat is complete, loose aggregate is applied and swept from the road. After a curing period, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings.
INDOT makes every effort to reduce vehicle damage during and immediately after chip seal projects. While these efforts may not prevent all damage to vehicles during the chip seal process, they have substantially reduced the likelihood of damage.
INDOT safety efforts include posting reduced speeds in work zones, closing roadways, or lanes during the chip seal process and after project completion to eliminate loose stones.
Chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique that is utilized across the state of Indiana, saving an estimated six to 14 dollars in taxpayer expenditures for every dollar invested in extending the life of the roadway.
Motorists should slow down, watch for stopped traffic and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and subject to change.
