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Drivers face bumpy ride - blame it on asphalt

By Julie Poppen, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 15, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Drivers already pained at the gas pump have something new to worry about: road work delays because of a shortage of asphalt.

Colorado Department of Transportation officials Monday said 34 projects statewide could be delayed, redesigned or not completed.

At this point, the implications aren't fully known, but "it has the potential to be pretty tremendous," CDOT spokeswoman Stacey Stegman said.

The asphalt mix used on roads is a petroleum-based product linked to the same economic pressures driving up gas prices. Refineries aren't generating as much of the liquid used for asphalt mix because they are focusing on more profitable products, such as diesel fuel, experts say.

"It's the first time on a nationwide basis that asphalt supply in general is a significant issue," said Larry Larson, vice president of sales for Tulsa- based SemMaterials, one of the nation's largest asphalt producers.

The asphalt shortage is compounded by a shortage of polymer, which reduces cracking and rutting. Two polymer plants in Europe have closed, and there is a high demand in China and India for the raw materials used to make the compound.

As for this summer's CDOT projects, Stegman said priority will be given to those on heavily traveled routes with the most significant pavement damage or in the middle of construction.

"If it gets to the point where we can't get supplies . . . we have to figure out how to restore them to a safe, drivable surface," Stegman said.

Stegman already is worrying about a stretch of I-25 between Santa Fe Drive and Sixth Avenue that may remain undone during the Democratic National Convention.

Aurora is facing similar problems because the city, like CDOT, prefers a polymer-based asphalt mix. Lynne Center, of Aurora's public works department, said the cost of asphalt has climbed 34 percent this year.

City officials have decided to delay resurfacing projects along Peoria Street and Chambers Road. Instead, they'll use conventional asphalt on arterial streets and put off the big projects until a new shipment of the higher- quality asphalt arrives.

Denver Public Works spokeswoman Christine Downs said the city isn't affected by the shortage, yet, because it doesn't use polymer-modified asphalt.

Larson said the cost of asphalt ultimately will abilize at a higher price but there will be "a limited supply from here on out."

"We'll be able to keep the roads going, but this year is going to be a wild ride," Larson said.

Some of the CDOT projects at risk

METRO DENVER

* Colorado Boulevard, Mexico Avenue to Alameda Avenue

* Indiana Avenue, 64th Avenue to 86th Parkway

* Colfax Avenue, Colorado Boulevard to Quebec Street

* Colfax Avenue, Airport Boulevard to Tower Road

* I-25, Santa Fe Drive to Sixth Avenue

* Havana Street/Sixth Avenue, First Avenue to Potomac Street

CENTRAL COLORADO

* I-25, Tomah Road and Douglas Lane

* I-70, Empire Junction/U.S. 40 and Fall River Road

* Colorado 131, south of Steamboat Springs

* Colo. 13, south of Wyoming

* I-70, Vail to U.S. 24

NORTH/NORTHEAST COLORADO

* U.S. 34 near Hardin

* U.S. 85, Colorado 60 to La Salle (near Evans)

* Colorado 93, Regent Drive to Colorado 170 (Boulder)

* Colo. 52 through Fort Lupton

* U.S. 34, I-25 to Colorado 257

* I-25, Weld County Road 34 to Colorado 56

* I-25, Colorado 56 to Crossroads Boulevard (near Loveland)

SOUTHWEST COLORADO

* U.S. 160, South Fork to Shaw Creek

* U.S. 160, Cielo Azul Drive to Denver Avenue in Alamosa

SOUTH/SOUTHEAST COLORADO

* I-25/Colorado 16 interchange

* I-25 through Trinidad

* I-25, Huerfano-Pueblo County line north 16 miles

* I-25, Northgate to the El Paso-Douglas County line