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The 10 Year Asphalt Program is an initiative by Collin
County to asphalt all 763 miles of county roads by 2014. Currently, more
than 615,200 people reside in Collin County and the population is continuing
to increase rapidly. Due to the county's continuing growth (the county
population increased by 5.65-percent between 2003 and 2004 according to
the North Central Texas Council of Governments), neighborhoods are stretching
to the north and east where the bulk of the rock and dirt roads are located.
Of the 763 miles of county roads, a little over 434 miles consist of rock
and nearly 40 miles are dirt. To accomodate the projected increase in
population and traffic, Collin County plans to asphalt 50 miles of rock
and dirt roads per year until the project is complete.
Converting the roads to asphalt is also more cost effective
over the long-term. A recent Colorado State University study (as it applies
to Collin County) reveals that based on 434 miles, 108,500 tons of rock
are lost per year. Because the current cost per ton is $12.73, that’s
a monetary loss of $1,381,000 per year. Beginning in 2005, the County
projects a cost savings of $500,000. By 2014, the projected savings will
be an estimated $2.75 million, and the county expects to continue saving
that amount through at least 2026.
Asphalt is also considered to be safer for road traffic than rock since
the distances required for a vehicle to stop are significantly reduced.
For a vehicle traveling at 50 miles per hour, the stopping distance is
estimated to be 250 feet on wet rock, approximately 165 feet on dry rock
and wet asphalt, and only 110 feet on dry asphalt.
More information about the roads maintained by the county
is provided below:
County Road Surfaces as of 2004
Dirt Roads
in Collin County as of 2004
Rock Roads
in Collin County as of 2004
To see which roads have been completed under the Asphalt
Program thus far and which roads are scheduled to be paved in the near
future following the links below:
Public Works:
2005 Project Status
Public Works:
2006 Project Status
Public Works:
2007 Project Status
Public
Works: 2008 Project Status
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