TIPPECANOE COUNTY — The Indiana Department of Transportation announces chip seal operations in Tippecanoe County. Beginning on or after Monday, crews will be chip sealing in the following locations:
• S.R. 28: From S.R. 25 to U.S. 231
• S.R. 28: From U.S. 231 to U.S. 52
Road will be under a full closure; drivers are asked to seek an alternate route.
Official detour: U.S. 52 to Teal Road (through Lafayette) back to U.S. 231
All work is anticipated to be complete by early September 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 up to one week, 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 lane closures with flagging, or a full closure, 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.
