Less Oil for the Roads
July 21st, 2008 by Steven GardnerEarlier I mentioned the commissioners discussing energy conservation and oil prices. Dunagan is on the conservation issue. He brought back the charts from the other conversation and I’m on that.
The bottom line is oil prices are making asphalt prices go up. So the county is responding by dramatically reducing the number of roads on which it will apply a final overlay of asphalt when it goes in to repair them. In terms of lane mileage (One lane for one mail equals one lane mile. Two lanes for one mile equals two lane miles.) to be replaced in 2008, it’s going from about 45 miles to about 22. That other 23 miles or so will still get the patchwork, just not the layer on top that makes it look like a brand new road.
The price of asphalt has gone from $41 a ton to $57, and is about to go to $70.
In 2009 the county is projecting the cost to be around $82.
The cost savings is expected to be about $1.5 million this year and $1.9 million in 2009.
Tags: Oil prices, Public Works
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
July 21st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Sensible economizing – good!
Sharon O’Hara
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
It is to bad that they do not add asphalt for bike lanes.
I recently traveled on the Gunderson Road where they had just finished resurfacing. There is no room for bikes to ride on this road safely.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:18 pm
I thought a ‘rule’ was to make sidewalks, bike paths anytime roads were resurfaced.
There are few safe roads in this county for bicyclists.
Sharon O’Hara