8/16/2010
REMINDER: Seal coat project on Chinden Boulevard to begin tomorrow
BOISE - Seal-coat work on Chinden Boulevard is expected to begin tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug.
17). The seal coat will extend the life of the roadway and provide greater
traction for motorists.
The seal coat proceeds west on Chinden (U.S. 20/26) from about Locust Grove to the
junction
with I-84 in Caldwell, then from Locust Grove east to Eagle Road
several days later. In all, it will cover a 15-mile area.
Later in August, another seal coat is planned. This project will be on Idaho 55 from the overhead message board
near Shadow Valley Golf Course north to the south city limits of
Horseshoe Bend - a distance of about 13 miles. This project is expected to be done by mid-September.
Traffic control on this project will consist of pilot cars, lane closures and restrictions. Crews will work a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
weekday schedule on both projects. In addition to not working during the morning or evening commute times on the Chinden Boulevard project, weekend work is not planned between Locust Grove and Eagle Road, but Sunday
work (7 a.m. to 1 p.m.) will be allowed. Weekend work will not be prohibited, and is anticipated as the work progresses from Locust Grove west to Caldwell. On the Idaho 55 job, no work will
be allowed over the Labor Day holiday weekend.
Seal
coating begins by applying a layer of asphalt, then a cover coat of
gravel on the roadway surface. The highway is rolled and traffic
allowed on to the roadway to help pack the surface before "brooming" or
sweeping to remove excess gravel. A properly applied seal coat can add
several years of service to a heavily traveled roadway by sealing the
surface and adding roughness for winter traction.
The work is done during the day to allow extreme heat to help asphalt and rock bond more quickly to the roadway surface, providing a
higher-quality finished product.