6/22/2016
Brief seal coat work on Idaho 24, Idaho 27 begins Monday
RUPERT – With paving operations completed on two sections of Minidoka County highway in 2015, the final work to apply a seal coat is beginning next week. Starting Monday, the seal coats will be applied on two-mile stretches of both Idaho 24 and Idaho 27.
Traffic delays on Idaho 24 will take place on Monday (June 27) between the B and B-2 canal bridges northeast of Rupert. Work will move to Idaho 27 on Tuesday (June 28) between Interstate 84 and the Idaho 25 junction in Paul. Work at each location is expected to last as long as three days.
While crews are present, traffic will be reduced to one lane with a pilot car. Drivers should watch for flaggers throughout these construction zones and be prepared for delays of up to 15 minutes. A 35-mph speed limit will be in effect. Observing posted speed limits and increasing following distance will reduce the risk of windshield damage caused by loose gravel.
Both roadways were resurfaced in 2015 to improve ride quality and life expectancy of the roadway. A properly applied seal coat can add several years of service to the roadway by preserving the integrity of the asphalt and serving as a barrier to water and cracking. The surface also improves winter safety by adding roughness for traction on snow and ice.
Seal coating begins by applying a layer of asphalt followed by a cover coat of gravel on the roadway surface. The highway is rolled and traffic is allowed onto the roadway to help pack the surface before "brooming," or sweeping, to remove excess gravel.
The work is done during the day to allow higher temperatures to bond the asphalt and rock more quickly to the roadway surface, providing a higher-quality finished product.
Work on each roadway is happening under separate contracts with Western Construction Inc., of Boise. Work on Idaho 24 is a $686,466 roadway maintenance project. Work on Idaho 27 is part of a $1.27 million paving project that included work on Idaho 77 completed in 2015 near Declo.