Crews have been busy crack sealing roads to help extend the life of the pavement and to provide a smoother road surface.
Local street department workers and INDOT crews have been busy with the process to keep water from getting into the cracks to slow the deterioration process and to prevent frost heave damage and potholes. This work is typically done in the spring and fall when temperatures are not at an extreme.
Cracks are air blasted to remove dust and debris. That process is followed by the application of a material mixture which is cured with the help of sand.
Pavement cracks are caused when traffic and temperature fluctuations create strains that the pavement cannot accommodate. Several factors influence crack development, including temperature extremes and rate of change, pavement structural design, aging characteristics of the asphalt cement, and traffic characteristics.
