Marshall County Highway Department crews began the chip and seal season on Tuesday. Highway Superintendent Jason Peters says work should be done by Aug. 19, weather permitting.
Work on Oak Road, 3rd Road, 5th Road and Union Road will continue this week.
Peters said crews will work from the northwest of the county to the northeast north of U.S. 30. Work will then migrate toward the southern part of the county, ending with subdivisions.
When you see road work, try to avoid the area. Peters said road closed signs will be posted from crossroad to crossroad. When the road is opened, drivers should slow to a speed between 20 and 30 mph for the first week. This helps the stone embed into the oil and cure. It also avoids the tires throwing stone which can lead to property damage.
Peters also asks the motoring public to be respectful of the hard work done by crews to maintain the roads in the county. He asks that drivers avoid turning sharply on newly chip/sealed roads, avoid spinning tires, avoid breaking hard, and avoid speeding. Speed is the biggest factor on a newly finished chip/sealed road.
Peters said with a driver’s cooperation in these respects, the roads should have an extended life of five years before another thorough evaluation is done.
