MORGAN COUNTY – The Indiana Department of Transportation announces chip seal operations on State Road 39 in Morgan County.
Beginning on or after Monday, July 27, crews will be chip sealing S.R. 39 from S.R. 142 to S.R. 42, just south of Monrovia Elementary School. During the duration of this work, traffic will be controlled with flaggers and access closures at both the intersections of S.R. 39 & S.R. 42 and S.R. 39 & S.R. 142.
All work is anticipated to be complete by early August but is weather-dependent and subject to change. After the completion of the chip seal operations, crews will begin fog seal operations, which will last approximately one day, weather-permitting.
Crews will place message boards at the end of the project to alert the traveling public. INDOT suggests finding alternate routes during the duration of the chip sealing operation.
Work is completed under a flagging operation 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 safety efforts include posting reduced speeds in work zones and 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.
Drivers should slow down, watch for stopped traffic, and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and subject to change.
