Hall County approves 10‑mile hot in‑place asphalt recycling project for Rosedale Road

The Hall County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a 10‑mile hot in‑place asphalt recycling project on Rosedale Road, authorizing the board chair to sign the necessary documents.

Public works director (Speaker 12) told commissioners the contractor, Dustrol, uses a mobile train‑style operation that grinds, heats and rebinds asphalt in place. Staff said the technique can cover a 10‑mile stretch and would likely run about half the per‑mile cost of a conventional 1‑inch grind and 3‑inch fill, with an estimated project cost of about $1,200,000. The company requires a five‑mile minimum for mobilization.

Commissioners asked whether the county would be sacrificing other priorities to try this method. Speaker 12 said it would be the department’s asphalt project for the next budget year and that they could still complete smaller bid projects using remaining funds. Speaker 7 and others noted the approach has been used elsewhere and could be a cost‑saving measure if the road base is suitable.

Speaker 3 pressed for assurances that the chosen stretches meet the necessary base conditions; Speaker 12 confirmed the county cored Husker Highway and determined some sections lacked a stable base, so those would not be suitable for the in‑place process. Commissioners agreed to prioritize roads that meet the required structural conditions.

The motion to approve the 2‑inch hot in‑place asphalt recycling for the 10‑mile stretch from Highway 281 to Highway 11 passed with seven yes votes. Staff said they would seek scheduling with the contractor and plan for engineering quotes and any bid work needed for bridge or concrete deck work that Dustrol’s scope excludes.

The project’s estimated cost and the contractor’s limited presence in the Midwest prompted several commissioners to note the county would normally prefer multiple bids but acknowledged the specialized nature of the equipment.