[FourPeas]

Montcalm converted nearly 10 miles on three primary county roads into gravel in May. Crushing the pavement and laying gravel cost about $10,000 a mile. Repaving a mile with asphalt would cost more than $100,000. The county had patched the roads in bits and pieces for years. But with potholes the size of steering wheels and no money for an extensive repaving, crews figured it wasn't worth another piecemeal job.

I don't think they're talking about the pea gravel. The article also talks about damage to windshields.

[muawiyah]

Remember, there are minimum standards for asphalt, and "peagravel and tar" ain't it. You also find it a common practice to spray tar on gravel and crushed rock to keep down the dust (not to hold them together). I grew up along such a road, and it's still gravel and crushed rock, and every now and then they'll add peagravel to smooth out the breaks.

After several decades of such treatment a lightly traveled road will begin to take on the appearance of having been paved.

We have several such roads near this neighborhood in Virginia.