6/20/2011
Seal coating of U.S. 26 northeast of Idaho Falls starts Tuesday (June 21)
RIGBY - About 10 miles of U.S. 26 northeast of Idaho Falls will be seal coated starting Tuesday (June 21), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
Crews will seal coat the stretch of highway reconstructed last year between Idaho Falls and Ririe under that contract. That piece is between the junction of U.S. 26 and Idaho 43 (Beaches Corner) and the junction of U.S. 26 and the Ririe business loop (about milepost 348).
Travel will be reduced to one lane in each direction, and the speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph.
Work is expected to take place between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The job is scheduled for completion July 1.
Seal coating consists of spraying liquid asphalt on the highway, spreading a layer of crushed rock over it, and rolling the application tight. Crews also will spray a light coat of asphalt over the crushed rock to help lock it in place.
Seal coating protects pavement against water damage and adds traction to the road surface.
Motorists should watch for construction workers, equipment and obey all traffic signs. Drivers should proceed slowly to avoid windshield damage.
This summer, crews will paint yellow centerline stripes, white edge stripes and apply other pavement markings on the sealed highway.
The contractor is Knife River Corporation's southern Idaho division based in Boise.