Road Repaving Projects Cut As Gas Tax Revenue Drops And Asphalt Prices Rise

I live in MA. We built a road fairly recently. It cost you $15B!

Now, sometimes the roof of the tunnel collapses and kills people, and sometimes there are leaks and water from the harbor overhead starts to enter the tunnel, but -- hey -- for a measly $15B, what can you expect??

The rising price of crude oil is having consequences that the Envirowhackos could never have dreamed of. Diesel fuel is one of the primary resouces in the construction industry. As the price of oil increases it makes it more difficult to afford new construction projects. The Envirowhackos have wanted us to build more windfarms and photovoltaic installations in order to migrate from the fossil fuel energy infrastructure. Now it will be harder to fund construction to bring online more windfarms and PV installations. I betcha’ the Envirowhackos never thought that would happen.

Another good side to higher oil prices is that it is having an impact on federal, state & local governemnt’s bottom line. As citizens become “tapped out” to pay for gasoline and food, they are buying less...so, the local economy is taking a hit. That means that many states and municipalities will not have the tax revenue to spend on those things they want to. Add to that the fact that the cost to do business for local government is increasing and its obvious that the government will take a “hit” too..

The price is quoted in dollars per ton. A ton of liquid asphalt contains about 235 US gallons. The paving industry has made enormous strides in the US because we have copied European standards that include the use of polymerized asphalt and a new way to measure its performance. There was evidence that European asphalt roads outlasted American roads because of performance additives. Nearly every state has adopted what is known as the SHRP program(Strategic Highway Research Program.) Instead of using a penetration grading system, each state has adopted a measure based on climate. Previously, AC grades were AC-10, AC-20, etc. Now, the products are rated on upper and lower temperatures, IE; 64-22.
64 C is 147 F, the hottest temperature expected in a given year. -22 C is -8 F, representing the coldest expected temperature. Some states use 64-22, others use 58-28, 74-22 and so on. The temperature range can be changed by blending various asphalts and polymers.
Concrete highways cost 2.4 times more to build and maintain in their expected life cycle than asphalt roads do. The liquid asphalt in a given road is about 6 percent polymerized oil and 94 percent aggregate.

Remember that the Environmentalists have already invaded your state transportation agencies. You might THINK your gas tax is paying for roads, but it’s also paying for, just to name a few:

1.) Pulling (by hand) of “invasive weeds.” Upwards of $200 per square yard.

2.) Birdhouse...YES BIRDHOUSES at $200 a pop.

3.) Ornamental Lighting, pocket parks, you name it.

4.) Over the top regulation to control erosion during what is often very brief construction.

5.) Disadvantaged businesses. Mandated percentage of subcontracting to businesses owned by Women and Minorities.

I don’t know what the $500 is. Maybe a truck load?

High volume, high production, as in highway construction, asphalt installed/placed runs around $60 to $90 per ton (New York State).

That doesn’t include any preparation work or striping.

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