Quarterly asphalt bids impacts commissioners’ road planning

By JOY HAMPTON The Claremore Daily Progress Tue Jun 24, 2008, 02:10 PM CDT

Prices have risen an average of $19 per ton for laid asphalt since March. That means Rogers County will pay $28,500 more per mile for roads this quarter.

The price hike was not unexpected. Chairman Dan DeLozier said last week he wouldn’t be surprised if bids for laid asphalt came in close to $70 a ton this quarter.

He was right.

Commissioners opened three-month bids for laid asphalt at Monday’s Board meeting. Prices reflected in those bids revealed an average cost increase of 38 percent over bids received three months ago.

Major county suppliers, APAC-Oklahoma, Inc. and Lobo Asphalt, showed cost increases of approximately 40 percent.

Low bidder was Becco at $52 per ton, a 24.4 percent increase over the company’s March bid price of $41.80.

However, bids on products such as laid asphalt are usually awarded to closest and first available to allow commissioners flexibility in dealing with contractors.

Commissioners have not always used Becco, a busy company that can’t always deliver when asphalt is needed.

DeLozier explained that county work crews get roads ready for laid asphalt when good weather exists. A contractor is called at that time.

“The main thing is when you pull off your shoulders, sweep the road and fix all your soft spots then you’re ready to overlay,” said DeLozier. “They need to be here within two weeks.”

If a contractor can’t deliver within two-weeks, county crews face the possibility of repeating preparatory work. DeLozier said he uses gravel fill in soft spots on the roads. Gravel becomes displaced over time. Repeating work increases the cost to the county.

DeLozier said he has contacted Becco for asphalt, and he hopes to lock in at the old bid price ($41.80) which is good until the end of June.

“Right now, Becco is getting ready to lay asphalt for Claremore,” said DeLozier. “As soon as they’re done with the city, they’re supposed to come to District 1.”

Last year, Commissioner Kirt Thacker had difficulty getting Becco to the site when needed due to other obligations by the company. DeLozier went with Bellco, now owned by APAC, because that company has a site near D1.

Generally, closer means lower costs for a district.

“Right now, the way oil is, whoever has asphalt and can supply it is who we’re going to go with,” said DeLozier. “Both Becco and APAC do a lot of state highway work that keeps them pretty busy. I don’t know about the other companies. They may, too.”

A county road requires approximately 1,500 tons of laid asphalt per mile.

In March, commissioners reported that the cost increase at that time would add up to nearly $15,000 per mile. With prices climbing an average of $19 per ton since March, that means Rogers County will pay $28,500 more per mile for laid asphalt during this next quarter. The total cost increase over the last six months was between $40,000 and $45,000 per mile of county road.

Commissioner Mike Helm said he uses a combination of vendors depending on lowest, closest, and delivery on time. He also used a lot of Bellco asphalt.

“We laid about 30 miles this spring,” said Helm. He said he locked in projects with Bellco bid in December. “We were charged $40.06.”

Helm said like the average citizen he’ll feel the impact of oil prices.

“Anything that’s petroleum based, you’re going to feel it,” he said.

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