JACKSON COUNTY, Ind. – Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) maintenance will start chip seal operations on U.S. 31 in Jackson and Scott Counties on or after Tuesday, June 3. Chip seal operations were previously scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 29, and were rescheduled due to weather.
Crews will be active on U.S. 31 between West Booe Road, located just over 1.5 miles north of S.R. 256 in Austin, and the U.S. 31 overpass over I-65, about 3.8 miles north of Uniontown in Jackson County. Motorists should expect lane closures and flagging operations while work is in progress. Chip seal work usually lasts three to four days.
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 roadway is coated with liquid asphalt, loose aggregate is applied, and excess material is swept from the roadway. After curing, crews will return to fog seal the new driving surface and apply pavement markings.
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.
