Chip seal operations beginning on or after July 22 in Vermillion County

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 1:48 PM

By Johnny McCrory @jmcillini

Crews will be working from S.R. 163 to S.R. 63 northwest of Newport.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces chip seal operations on State Road 71 in Vermillion County.

Beginning on or after Monday, July 22, through late July (weather permitting), crews will be working from S.R. 163 to S.R. 63 northwest of Newport.

Crews will place message boards at each end of the project, to alert the traveling public. INDOT suggests finding alternative routes during the short duration of the chip sealing operation. In the event of weather delays, the schedule will be altered accordingly.

Work is completed under lane closures with flagging, or a full closure in several, if not all of these locations 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 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.

Motorists should slow down, watch for stopped traffic and drive distraction-free through all work zones. All work for this and other projects is weather dependent, and schedules are subject to change.