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Seal coat projects planned statewide
to prolong highway surfaces

The arrival of spring also marks the beginning of annual paving operations throughout Idaho to improve and preserve the state's roadway surfaces. One of those operations is seal coating.

In Idaho, most highway seal coating takes place between June 15 and the end of August.

Seal coating begins by applying a layer of asphalt and 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 removes excess gavel.

Finally, a light fog-coat of asphalt is applied to the treated highway to help seal the surface from moisture.

A seal coat protects the existing highway against water damage, adds traction to the surface and prolongs its life. Costs to seal-coat a surface are much less than replacing a surface.

ITD cautions motorists to reduce their speed on newly seal-coated highways until the gravel has had a chance to fully adhere to the asphalt.

Motorists need to be alert, obey traffic control signs, drive carefully and be prepared to stop for road crews and lane closures when driving through or near all highway construction work zones. Driving within the posted speed limit also helps reduce the risk of windshield damage, both to the driver's car and to other vehicles.

This year, warning signs for motorcycles also will be posted in construction work zones across the state. The purpose of those signs is to warn motorcyclists of changes in roadway conditions, which will require caution.

"We are making an extra effort this year to get all seal-coat projects listed on 511 because we know how difficult it is for motorcyclists to go through these projects," said Alison Lantz, ITD's traveler information/511 manager. "We want motorcyclists to be able to check 511 and plan their travel routes knowing where the seal-coat locations are."

The transportation department will issue news releases detailing major paving operations and their locations as work dates are set.

ITD encourages all motorists to be prepared before traveling Idaho's highways by logging onto the Idaho Traveler Services Web Page at 511.idaho.gov or dial 5-1-1 for the latest information on highway construction and paving operations.

Seal coating is planned for the following portions of Idaho's highway system this summer:

Idaho 3 (milepost 69 - 76) South Sheep Creek to Refuse area (8 miles south of St. Maries)
I-15 (milepost 16 - 25) Devil Creek Interchange (16.34 miles north of the Utah state line) to Devil Creek
I-15 (milepost 111 - 119) North of the Blackfoot Rest Area
I-15SB (milepost 127 - 134) Osgood Interchange (7 miles north of Idaho Falls) to Roberts Interchange - SB I-15 Only
I-15NB (milepost 143 - 149) Sage Junction Interchange to Hamer Road Interchange (Hamer) - NB I-15 Only
U.S. 20 (milepost 40 - 41) Eagle Road to Cloverdale Road in Boise
U.S. 20 (milepost 42 - 47) Joplin Road to Junction with I-184 in Boise
U.S. 20 (milepost 112 - 124) Northeast of Mountain Home to Cat Creek Summit (27 miles west of Fairfield)
U.S. 20 (milepost 253 - 272) Milepost 253 (4 miles east of Arco) to Junction U.S. 20/26 West
Idaho 22 (milepost 47 - 59) Southwest of Dubois
U.S. 26 (milepost 361 - 368) Clark Hill to Granite Hill (7 miles west of Swan Valley)
U.S. 26 (milepost 368 - 373) Granite Hill to Swan Valley Bridge (near Swan Valley)
Idaho 28 (milepost 126 - 135) Baker to Salmon
U.S. 30 (milepost 406 - 424) Soda Springs East City Limits to Nounan Road
U.S. 30 (milepost 438 - 441) Dingle Road to Turnout
U.S. 30 (milepost 449 - 454) Alton Road to milepost 454
Idaho 33 (milepost 0 - 15) Junction US 20/26 to Howe
Idaho 33 (milepost 38 - 43) 800 E. Rd to Jct. Idaho 28 (1 mile west of Mud Lake)
Idaho 33 (milepost 58 - 73) I-15 Sage Junction Interchange to Henry's Fork Bridge (5 miles west of Rexburg)
Idaho 33 (milepost 131 - 140) Junction Idaho 32 near Tetonia to Driggs
Idaho 33 (milepost 149 - 155) Victor to the Wyoming State Line
Idaho 34 (milepost 7 - 12) Junction U.S. 91 in Preston to Riverdale Road
Idaho 36 (milepost 0 - 5) Junction SH-34 northeast of Preston to milepost 5
Idaho 51 (milepost 0 - 19) Nevada State Line to Sheep Creek Road in Owyhee County
Idaho 53 (milepost 0 - 14) Washington State Line to the Junction of U.S. 95
Idaho 55 (milepost 97 - 106) Smith's Ferry to Clear Creek (6 miles south of Cascade)
Idaho 67 Spur (milepost 0 - 1) Entrance to Mountain Home Air Force Base to Grandview Road near Mountain Home
I-84 (milepost 17 - 26) Milepost 17.6 to Caldwell
I-86WB (milepost 1 - 14) Junction I-84 to Yale Road Interchange (23 miles west of American Falls) - WB I-86 Only
U.S. 89 (milepost 26 - 40) Home Canyon to East of Narrows
I-90 (milepost 24 - 32) 4th of July Pass East of Coeur d'Alene
U.S. 91 (milepost 7 - 9) 1st East Street to 800 N. Street in Preston
U.S. 93 (milepost 50 - 52) Perrine Bridge to South of I-84 (North side of Twin Falls)
U.S. 95 (milepost 234 - 239) Lake Road to Grangeville
U.S. 95 (milepost 267 - 271) Lawyers Creek Bridge to Lauer Road (near Craigmont)
U.S. 95 (milepost 410 - 416) Setters (5 miles north of Worley) to Bell Grove (14 miles south of Coeur d'Alene)
Off-System (milepost 12 - 28) Mesa Falls Road near Ashton