(Ripley County, IN) – INDOT crews plan to begin chip seal operations on State Road 46 in Ripley County on or after Wednesday.
Crews will be active between State Roads 129 and 101 east of Batesville for three to four days, weather permitting.
Motorists should expect lane closures and flagging while work is in progress.
During operations, existing pavement is coated with liquid asphalt, which seals cracks and provides waterproof protection.
INDOT says 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.
The agency says chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique that is used across the state, saving an estimated six to 14 dollars in taxpayer expenses for every dollar invested in extending the life of a roadway.
Drivers are reminded 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.
