Inflation pushes Delaware County's 5-year paving plan farther down road

MUNCIE — The cost of asphalt is wreaking havoc with road work budgets and likely will mean a delay in Delaware County's five-year paving plan.

"The public is going to have to be patient with us," said Tommie Humbert, Delaware County Highway superintendent after Monday's county commissioner meeting.

He said that given the price increase for asphalt, there is no way the budgeted plan for paving roads in the next five years will be able to stand. That will mean more road maintenance by applying chip seal for some county roads until the county can afford paving.

Humbert said that last May the price of asphalt for the county was $55 a ton. This May it costs $73.50 a ton. It can take 850 to 900 tons of asphalt to pave a mile of road. 

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Asphalt is a black sticky substance, mixed with crushed stone, sand or gravel, which is used for construction of road surfaces. Chip seal involves putting down a layer of stone on top of a road, then applying an oil coat over it to seal it and hold it together. The process is repeated until the desired thickness is achieved. Chip seal is less expensive that asphalt paving and can last years.