The Boone County finance committee approved July 17 an application to use a pavement rejuvenator on one lane of Cherry Valley Road as a pilot test strip, at an estimated cost of $51,532.80.

Highway staffer Justin (on the line) described the treatment as a surface rejuvenator that restores oils lost to sun and weather, helping to rebind aggregate and extend the life of the pavement. "The expected, additional life is, anywhere the research I saw is anywhere from 2 to 7 years," Justin said, and recommended a one‑lane test so the county can directly compare treated and untreated sections.

Staff said the bid was based on a unit price used by DeKalb County, and the low bidder agreed to apply the same unit price for the test strip in Boone County. The proposed treatment would be applied to a single lane over roughly six miles between the county boundary and Cherry Valley Road; staff emphasized the method is meant for roads that are structurally sound (no sub‑base failure) and will not repair potholes or structural defects.

Committee members asked about applicability to other roads and the contractor’s assessment process; staff said the product is a liquid surface treatment that does not fill cracks or address structural failures but may prolong surface life and delay resurfacing. The committee approved moving the application forward to the county board.

Staff said the pilot will provide comparative data over the coming years to determine cost‑effectiveness versus full resurfacing.