FREETOWN, Ind. – Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractors have delayed chip seal operations on State Road 58 in Jackson and Bartholomew Counties one day and will begin the project on Tuesday, August 1. Crews will be active from just north of State Road 135, near Freetown, to one-half mile west of I-65 near Ogilville.
As part of this work, S.R. 58 will be closed to through traffic from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, Tuesday through Thursday, weather permitting. Access will be maintained for local residents.
During chip seal operations, the 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.
Chip seal is a cost-effective pavement preservation technique used by the state of Indiana, saving an estimated $6 to $14 in taxpayer expenditures for every dollar invested in extending the life of a road.
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.
