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Lawmakers warn asphalt tonnage drop could mean Kentucky contractors leaving state
Summary
During questioning, legislators said asphalt tonnage in 2026 is far below 2025 levels and worried contractors are moving out of state for work; KYTC replied project mix and future resurfacing lettings should help close the gap.
Representative Branscomb told the committee he had data showing 1,800,000 tons of asphalt laid in 2025 compared with about 830,000 tons to date in 2026 and asked why tonnage dropped by roughly one million tons. He warned that "some of the road contractors ... they're having to move their crews out of Kentucky" to find work and said mobilization challenges could limit the local bid market in the fall paving season.
Jason Sewell responded that project mix has been different this year — including alternative-delivery work — and that KYTC expects to let additional asset-management and resurfacing projects through the rest of the year to make up some of the gap. Lawmakers pressed whether the department could provide clearer district schedules and whether advance programming could avoid lulls that push contractors to seek work out of state.
The exchange did not produce a committee directive but several members requested KYTC follow up with district-level plans and a fuller explanation of how cash forecasting and project sequencing affect asphalt tonnage and contractor availability.
