August 31, 2010
08/31/10
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that Old U.S. 31 (Michigan Road) will be closed during daylight hours for a chip-seal and fog seal operation between U.S. 31 and Argos beginning Wednesday, September 1. Traffic will be directed on a four-mile marked detour.
Southbound traffic on Michigan Road will be directed south on U.S. 31, east on State Road 10 (S.R. 10) and back to Michigan Road. Northbound traffic will be detoured west on S.R. 10, north on U.S. 31 and back to Michigan Road. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of the day Thursday, September 2; however, the schedule is subject to change in the event of inclement weather.
The chip-seal process consists of distributing a liquid asphalt emulsion on the roadway and covering the liquid asphalt with crushed stone to provide a new wearing surface. Chip-sealing extends the life of a roadway by protecting it from moisture, ultra-violet degradation and any other exposures that could damage a roadway.
Drivers should exercise caution during the construction of these projects. Loose stone will be present on the roadway during the initial cure of the asphalt and can damage windshields and paint on vehicles following each other too closely. It is recommended when travelling on a recently chip-sealed road to slow down and allow additional space between vehicles.
The fog seal is being applied on top of the chip-seal work. The fog seal is a light application of asphalt material that can lock in loose stone and help with dust problems. It also makes the road black, which makes pavement markings more visible.
INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through a construction zone. For the latest news and information about INDOT, please visit www.in.gov/indot.