8
Oct 8th, 2024
Between the corn and soybean fields of Indiana, there are hundreds of miles of county roads in need of work. For county superintendents and engineers, the task can feel overwhelming, especially without adequate funding.
In response to this challenge, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) launched the Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) in 2016. The goal of the CCMG Program is to provide funding to Indiana counties, towns and cities who need to make improvements to local roads and bridges. Projects that are eligible for funding include road and bridge preservation work (with a connection to ADA compliance) and gravel to hard-surface road conversions.
This year, Henry County is a first-time recipient of the CCMG. In Henry County, the Highway Superintendent is responsible for overseeing all 777 miles of county roads in his department’s care. He and his team identified 50 miles of gravel (stone) roads that needed to be reinforced with chip seal. To make significant progress toward this goal, Henry County has leveraged the CCMG opportunity.
This Henry County CCMG project covers 40 miles of mostly county roads. About 20 miles of hard surface roads received a double chip seal covered with fog seal. About 20 miles of gravel roads received a triple chip seal followed by fog seal. The contractor, Evergreen Roadworks™, was able to finish this work in two weeks.
Chip seal is a surface treatment that consists of an application of asphalt binder, in this case an asphalt emulsion (Ae90s), covered by a layer of aggregate, which is embedded by pneumatics rollers. After an hour, the road can be reopened to slow moving traffic.
Chip seal is a popular choice for rural roads, as it remains one of the most cost-effective methods to preserve infrastructure, reducing life-cycle costs by 45-50%, compared to hot mix asphalt (HMA). This treatment provides a skid-resistant wearing course that stops raveling and seals minor cracks, extending the life of a roadway by 5-7 years.
County Road 400 W, Henry County
Fog seal can be applied to cured chip-sealed roads in a single, light pass of emulsified asphalt. This locks the aggregates in place and provides a darker color to contract future striping. By protecting the pavement from moisture intrusion and oxidation, fog seal can extend the pavement life by 2-4 more years.
For Henry County, the CCMG has enabled them to add over a decade of life to 40 miles of roadways using an economical chip and fog seal combination.
CCMG helps both rural and urban Indiana local government units to invest in their local surface transportation networks, while simultaneously creating jobs and leading to economic development.
Applying for grants can seem daunting, but many counties work with a road engineer or consultant to help them navigate the application process. Each year, INDOT has two CCMG Call for Projects, first in January and then in July. Now is the time to get curious about how this grant could benefit your community.
At Evergreen Roadworks, we can help you make your road investments stretch father and last longer. Let us be your expert on pavement preservation treatments. Connect today to discuss how we can partner to make the most of opportunities like the CCMG.