WORK WILL BE INCREASING ON SECONDARY RURAL ROADS AS THE SPRING THAW BEGINS, INCLUDING THE DUMPING OF GRAVEL ON THOSE ROADS.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY ENGINEER TOM ROHE SAYS THAT GRAVEL IS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO LOCATE, AND IN SHORT SUPPLY.
CONSEQUENTLY THE PRICE HAS RISEN SHARPLY DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
ROHE SAYS SO FAR, MOST OF THE STATE’S RURAL ROADS HAVE BEEN HOLDING UP WELL:
ROHE1 OC……….HELPS A LOT. ;16
HE SAYS ALTERNATIVES FOR GRAVEL, LIKE CRUSHED CONCRETE, IS ALSO HARD TO COME BY:
ROHE2 OC………RIVER SIDES. :20
ROHE SAYS THE COST FOR GRAVEL ON A PER TON BASIS HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN RECENT YEARS AND THAT MANY TIMES THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO HAUL THE GRAVEL IS EQUAL TO THE COST OF THE MATERIAL:
ROHE3 OC……….PER MILE. :19
ROHE SAYS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, COUNTIES MAY NEED TO HAUL THE GRAVEL BY RAIL, WHICH WOULD MEAN EVEN HIGHER COSTS FOR OBTAINING GRAVEL FOR THE RURAL ROADS.
