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Adams County reports 107.5 miles of chip seal, highlights cost advantages over asphalt
Summary
Highway staff told commissioners the county completed about 107.5 miles of chip seal this season, using 439,252 gallons of oil and 15,558.88 tons of stone; staff said chip seal costs roughly $9,642.59 per mile versus over $100,000 a mile for asphalt.
Highway staff reviewed this year's chip'seal season and described the material use and costs that underpin the county's pavement strategy. "We end up doing a 107 and 0.5 miles of chip seal this year," the highway representative said, and then listed resource figures: 439,252 gallons of oil and 15,558.88 tons of stone placed on county roads.
Staff noted the per'mile cost advantage of chip seal, giving a figure of about $9,642.59 per mile compared with more than $100,000 per mile for full asphalt reconstruction. Commissioners and staff discussed methods to address persistent troughing in places (options include localized leveling before sealing or experimenting with asphalt recipes and different aggregates) and noted plans to schedule roughly 90+ miles for next year based on preliminary mapping.
Why it matters: the chip'seal program allows Adams County to cover large mileage on a limited budget while recognizing chip seal offers different longevity and ride-quality tradeoffs versus full asphalt. Commissioners asked staff to test alternative equipment and mixes to improve surface durability.
Next steps: staff will pursue equipment modifications (a new truck chassis with a belt-driven live-bottom) and meet with regional peers and the vendor Brooks to explore asphalt recipe changes and durability improvements.
