Weather and temperatures permitting, contractor chip sealing operations will begin within the next couple of weeks on Route B in Warren County.The project will go from Interstate 70 near Pendleton to Missouri Highway 94. Traffic will be reduced to one lane between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a pilot car leading traffic through the work zone.Once that project is complete, the contractor will move to Highway 19 in Montgomery County and will complete a chip seal operation from just north of Montgomery County Route B near Montgomery City to 1.7 miles south of I-70. Traffic will be reduced to one lane between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. with a pilot car as well.Signs at the side roads will advise motorists to stop and wait for the pilot car. Drivers should only enter the roadway when the pilot car goes by in their intended direction of travel. Delays should be expected; please allow ample driving time to your destination.Chester Bross Construction Company in Palmyra was awarded the contract for these projects in the amount of $566,351.71.Chip sealing is a preventative maintenance measure that helps preserve the current condition of the road, but doesn’t contribute to the smoothness of the surface. The project consists of placing a thin overlay of chips and oil on the roadway to seal and protect the pavement and extend the pavement life. The roadway can be driven on soon after applied, however, motorists are encouraged to drive slowly on the newly sealed road or use alternate routes if possible.“A few days after the chip seal is laid, a broom truck will go over the surface to remove excess rock,” explained Erik Maninga, MoDOT area engineer. “Vehicles help the process by embedding the rocks into the oil, so we wait a few days before we go back to remove the excess rock,” he said.Within a few weeks, the contractor will stripe the roads.MoDOT