State Road 256 closes next week for operations near Austin

SCOTT/JACKSON CO. — Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to close State Road 256 to complete chip seal operations next week in Scott and Jackson Counties. 

Starting on or after Monday, July 10, crews will be active between Dowling Street in Austin and Old S.R. 39. Access will be maintained for local residents. Thru traffic should use an alternate route.

Chip seal work typically lasts three to four days per location depending upon the weather. During operations, the existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the service life of the roadway 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.

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 a roadway.

INDOT reminds drivers to slow down, avoid distractions, and consider worker safety when traveling through active work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.