MONROE COUNTY, Ind.— Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance crews plan to begin chip seal operations on State Road 48 in Monroe County on or after Thursday, May 23. Crews will be active between State Road 43 and approximately three miles west of I-69 near Bloomington. Motorists should expect lane closures and flagging while work is in progress.
Depending on the weather, chip seal work typically lasts three to four days per location. During operations, the existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection. This extends the roadway’s service life 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 utilized across the state of Indiana. For every dollar invested in extending the life of a roadway, an estimated six to 14 dollars in taxpayer expenditures are saved.
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.
