7/25/2011
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
McCall seal coating to start Aug. 1
McCALL - A seal coat project on 14.5 miles of Idaho 55 from Zachary Road (near Warren Wagon Road) south through McCall to Donnelly is expected to begin Monday (Aug. 1), the Idaho Transportation Department announced.
The work will begin at the north end of McCall and proceed south to Boulder Creek Bridge in Donnelly. The work is estimated to take five to six days to complete.
Crews will work a 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekday schedule, but also are allowed to work from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. if necessary. However, crews can work only until noon on Fridays and must be off the highway on weekends because of heavy recreational and tourism traffic in the summer.
Speed limits will be reduced in the construction zone. Traffic will be controlled by lane closures, lane restrictions or pilot cars. Motorists can expect delays of up to 20 minutes.
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. All brooming will be done at night.
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 the heat to help asphalt and rock bond more quickly to the roadway surface, providing a higher-quality finished product.
Motorists are advised to obey the posted speed limit and to drive carefully through the construction area to reduce the possibility of windshield damage from rock chips.