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Cass County to pilot hot‑in‑place asphalt recycling, staff cites significant per‑mile savings
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Summary
Road staff told the advisory they will pilot a hot‑in‑place recycling method on Northern Cass School Road, reheating existing pavement, adding rejuvenator oil and capping with 1.5 inches of asphalt; staff estimated about $65,000 saved per mile and roughly $730,000 on the pilot project.
County road staff described plans to pilot a hot‑in‑place asphalt recycling technique in 2026 as a cost‑saving and lower‑impact alternative to traditional mill and overlay work.
Kyle explained the process: equipment heats the existing asphalt to soften it, injects a rejuvenator oil and runs the softened material into a paver before capping the surface with an inch and a half of new asphalt. He said the process reduces truck trips and handling of millings and estimated sizable savings. "By doing this hot in place, we're saving about $65,000 a mile. And on this project, we're saving about $730,000," Kyle said.
Kyle identified the pilot location as Northern Cass School Road and cited comparable pilots in Clay and Polk counties with positive results. Commissioners and a resident asked about operational limitations such as slower machine speeds and temperature constraints; staff said performance varies with temperature and that the method uses a lot of propane in colder conditions.
Chip seal, crack seal and striping projects also came in under budget this year, and Kyle reported asphalt prices around $75 per ton — down from earlier estimates around $95 per ton — yielding about $2 million in asphalt cost savings so far for county work this year.
The advisory did not take separate formal action on the pilot at this meeting; staff said they will monitor performance and report results after implementation.
