The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Brownwood District will begin a project May 13 to preserve area highways with seal coating.

More than 223 miles of state-maintained roadways are part of the district’s 2013 seal coat program.  Roadways in Brown, Comanche, Eastland, Lampasas, McCulloch, Mills, San Saba and Stephens counties will receive $6.3 million worth of preventive maintenance seal coat work.

“Maintenance and system preservation is our largest expenditure, and seal coating provides a variety of benefits to the roadway, including a waterproof surface that prevents moisture from entering and weakening the roadbed,” said Brownwood Area Engineer Bart Fris, P.E., who is overseeing the project. “Seal coating also reduces deterioration and cracking of the asphalt surface, which will prolong the life of the pavement.”

Weather permitting; the work will be complete by late June. Motorists can expect lane closures and a pilot car to guide traffic through work zones. Drivers are asked to be on the lookout for workers and to avoid distractions.

Sections of the following roadways are included in this year’s seal coat program:

Brown County: SH 279, FM, 1689, FM 1849, FM 2125, FM 2273, FM 2524, FM 2632, FM 3021, Park Road 15

Comanche County: US 67, FM 1476, FM 1496

Eastland County: I-20, SH 6, SH 16, SH 36, SH 112, SH 206, Loop 254, FM 101, FM 570, FM 717

Lampasas County: US 183, US 190, FM 1478, FM 2808

McCulloch County: US 87, US 377, SH 71, FM 2028

Mills County: FM 2005

San Saba County: FM 765

Stephens County: US 183, FM 1148, FM 2231, FM 3201