More on Road Surfacing

There are many factors to consider in choosing a road surface and information is key to making effective decisions. According to Jim Buisman of Lincoln County Public Works, it's generally been found that over the long haul paving a road will result in higher costs than maintaining a gravel road. This is largely due to the significant up front costs involved in surface preparation, installing adequate drainage, and laying the pavement. However, Jim also points out other considerations that might in part affect the cost comparison. One of those factors is dust control expense. Other considerations include potential effects on property values, speeding issues, icy conditions on slopes, wear and tear on tires, etc. Not all issues lend themselves easily to cost/benefit analysis.