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Highlands Today

Asphalt Plant's Success Will Pave County's Road Plan

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By Jim  Konkoly | Highlands Today

Published: October 29, 2007

SEBRING –– There is both good and disappointing news regarding the condition of the 1,200 miles of roads maintained by Highlands County.

First, the good news. The county will resurface 25 miles of roadways, eight more than last year, in the new fiscal year, which began Oct. 1.

The disappointing news: At least 30 miles, and preferably 40 miles, should be resurfaced each year to keep the county road system in top shape, according to Brian Miller, the county's road construction inspector.

There is also hope for expanding county road maintenance in future years, if Ken Wheeler's optimism about the county's asphalt plant bears out.

In May, Highlands County is scheduled to open the state's first government owned asphalt plant at the county landfill. Wheeler, the county's director of solid waste, has predicted a cost of $69 per ton for paving with asphalt from that plant, $13 per ton less than the county's current contract price of $82 per ton.

The eight extra miles set for resurfacing this year result from county commissioners committing more funds to road work and projected savings from the county asphalt plant.

But, Wheeler said, in future years the county's per ton cost could be reduced beyond his original projection through the use of recycled materials, including roof shingles and glass.

"We feel we have considerable room for improving that margin," Wheeler said. "There are ways to reduce our costs further, and once we get the plant, I think we'll be able to do it."

Recycled materials won't be used immediately when the plant begins operations, Wheeler said, but he's already exploring that option to cut costs. Additional savings would expand the annual resurfacing program, he said.

"Our goal is to do over 30 miles (in resurfacing) each year to try to keep them in good shape," Miller said. "Ideally, we need to be doing about 40 miles per year."

In addition to resurfacing, the county Road and Bridge Department plans seven road reconstruction projects.

The largest by far is the reconstruction of 8.9 miles of Old State Road 8, which is scheduled to start Monday. A Florida Department of Transportation grant of $2.3 million is covering the cost, said Bruce Van Jaarsveld, director of Road and Bridge.

Van Jaarsveld said this project includes widening and resurfacing the roadway, eliminating bumps and small hills, and elevating the road to prevent flooding in the Toni Circle area.

The six other road reconstruction projects scheduled for this fiscal year total just over 3.6 miles. Those projects are:

u South Corvette Avenue, from Thunderbird Road south;

u Renault Avenue, from Cooper Drive to Rachel lake Drive South;

u Shamrock Street between Arnolt and Abarth avenues;

u Talbot Street, from Abarth Avenue to Jaguar Drive;

u Waterway Drive, from Sebring Lakes Boulevard to Tangelo Street; and

u Tearose Street, from Tremont Avenue to Lake Crews Road.

Miller said hopes for reaching the ideal level of resurfacing 40 to 45 miles per year depend on the success of the county's asphalt plant.

"The ultimate goal is to have an aggressive resurfacing program and not have to reconstruct," he said. Road reconstruction is three to four times more expensive than resurfacing, he said.

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