Town Hoping to Make Road Patching More Economical

When the snow melts, there will be the inevitable road maintenance.

And with road maintenance comes paving and patching efforts.

The process will likely be streamlined with the acquisition of a 4-ton hot asphalt ''hot box'' by the Public Works Department. The device should make the patching process more economical, town officials say. Currently, town crews patch roads with  a ''cold patch'' method.

Pubic works director Robert Kleinhans said hot, dug-up asphalt can now be used in the patching process.

''The hot asphalt allows for a better mix, reducing the likeliness that the patch will sustain quick damage and removal,'' Kleinhans says. ''Our crews should be able to quickly and more efficiently repair potholes with this new system.''

The ''hot box'' can hold up to 4 tons of recycled asphalt, which could then be mixed with new asphalt and kept warm until the area that needs patching is ready. The hot patch will last longer than a mix of stone and tar which was previously used, Mayor Jason McCoy says. The stone-and-tar mixture, despite being compacted into potholes, can easily be broken up by vehicles and plows, McCoy says.

''Having a hot asphalt box will better allow the DPW to do its job in a more timely and efficient manner,'' McCoy says. ''The use of the box will lessen the amount of time that crews need to spend repairing the roads, as well as any duplication spent on cold patches that do not last for a long duration of time.''

The town council approved a financing agreement with California First National Bank for the paving device and three police cruisers under a lease-and-purchase contract.

The total for all four was $106,412, including financing charges.

''The new paving process will allow for the reuse of asphalt and help eliminate waste, which will ultimately save taxpayers money.'' McCoy says. 'The roads will hold up for a longer period of time, which will be a major benefit for the public and their vehicles.''