A shortage of high-grade asphalt is hammering the state transportation department, forcing crews to delay or revamp nearly three dozen road projects around the state, including one on Highway 82 at Basalt.
The shortage is so severe, it means almost no asphalt at all that meets the grade for CDOT road projects.
“The only thing worse than expensive asphalt is no asphalt at all,” said Joe Elsen, resident engineer for CDOT in Glenwood Springs.
CDOT officials said the Basalt project is likely to be delayed because of the asphalt absence, but they couldn’t say how long it would be delayed because it’s not clear when the asphalt will be available again. Elsen said the Basalt project would likely have to wait until next year.
“It just leaves us having to look at other options,” said CDOT spokeswoman Stacey Stegman. “For example, the industry is telling us this problem is going to ease in the fall. So, do we allow projects to be extended to fall or after with hopes of getting it? Some projects maybe we just shut down for the winter and come back next spring.”
Some other projects may go forward with a lesser grade of asphalt, Stegman said.
All of CDOT’s 34 road projects throughout the state could be affected because of a shortage of both asphalt and polymer, Stegman said. CDOT uses a higher grade of asphalt than most other public and private entities, intended to extend the life of road projects to last about a decade. The asphalt includes a polymer designed to strengthen it and withstand the temperature range of Colorado highways, from mountain winters to summer heat.
European supplies of a chemical that forms the base of the polymer have been disrupted, Stegman said, limiting the ability of plants to manufacture the asphalt. Meanwhile, soaring oil demands are stressing asphalt supplies as refineries shift from asphalt production to making fuels like gasoline and jet fuel.
“It’s market forces at work,” Elsen said.
The problem mostly affects CDOT, but others are affected as well. Mark Gould, CEO of Gould Construction, said his company is working on building a taxiway and helipad at the Garfield County Regional Airport in Rifle. The Federal Aviation Administration requires the same grade of asphalt as the one CDOT uses, he said, and his subcontractors can’t get it.
“When you say a shortage, it’s a shortage that’s gone to zero,” Gould said.
His company had planned to bid on an oil and gas industry office project in DeBeque, but because it had to tie into state Highway 6 and 24 with an acceleration-deceleration lane, the project had to meet CDOT standards, and Gould said he simply couldn’t get the asphalt, at any price.
“They won’t make anymore,” he said. “CDOT is in a crisis, because CDOT has decided that this mix works best in the state of Colorado and oil companies say, ‘Sorry. We don’t care. We don’t make any more.’”
CDOT is reviewing its 2008 highway projects to identify which may be impacted. Priority will be given to projects on high-traffic roads, areas with significant damage and those in the middle of construction. Officials said they believe the shortage will be short term.
dfrey@aspendailynews.com
