El Paso County commissioners approve 2021 road improvement list

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Nearly 377 miles of roads will be improved as part of the annual maintenance program recently approved by county commissioners.

The road work will be allocated to dust reduction (227 lane miles), gravel road repair (29 miles), paving (53 miles) and chip sealing (66 miles).

Chip sealing is a process in which a loosely-compacted layer of aggregate (small particles containing sand, gravel, crushed stone, recycled concrete, etc.) is spread on a layer of asphalt.

Chip sealing is a less expensive way to maintain roads that are in good condition, and is often used on rural roads having lower traffic volumes.

Scot Cuthbertson, executive director of public works for the county, said that the cost of the maintenance projects is $17 million -- $10 million from the local Pikes Peak Rural Transit Authority sales tax and the rest from a county fund for roads and bridges.

"I know that there are people who want their gravel roads paved, but we don't have the budget for it," he said. "We will be testing some new methods this year that could work on paved and gravel roads. We're always looking for new ideas."

Cuthbertson said that crews spray magnesium chloride -- the same chemical often sprayed on roadways to retard ice and snow accumulation -- to reduce dust from gravel roads.

The longest stretch of road to be paved is nearly eight lane-miles of Garrett Road, between Curtis and Dodge roads.

Calhan Highway South will get the longest stretch of chip sealing, nearly 16 miles between Judge Orr Road and Highway 94.

The longest gravel road project is eight miles, on Meridian Road between Hanover Road and the county line.

Drennan Road will receive the longest stretch of dust reduction, 18 miles from Curtis Road to Ellicott Highway.

To see the entire list, visit: https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso/file/getfile/20538.