Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 636
McKinney, TX  75069

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Leigh Hornsby, Public Information Officer
972-548-4772
publicrelations@collincountytx.gov

July 19, 2004

Collin County to pave all county roads by 2014

( McKinney , TX ) – Collin County is taking on a 10-year project to asphalt all 763 miles of county roads by 2014.

“This is a tremendous undertaking, but we're up for the task,” says Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes. “Our Public Works Department has been working on developing this plan for more than five years. We have a plan that's ready to go.”

The Commissioners Court unanimously approved the plan.

Of the 763 miles of county roads, a little over 434 miles consist of rock and nearly 40 miles are dirt.

“Our population has grown faster than expected. Over the last year, we had an estimated 90 people who moved into the county each day,” says Jaynes. According to the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the population increased 5.65-percent between 2003 and 2004. And, Collin County is now home to more than 615,200 residents.

Because of this growth, neighborhoods are stretching to the north and east, where a bulk of the rock and dirt roads are located.

“Over the long term, we have determined that it will be more cost effective to go forward and asphalt all county roads that it would be to continue the maintenance of all rock and dirt roads,” says Public Works Director Jon Kleinheksel .

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.

“These are considerable savings,” says Collin County Commissioner Jerry Hoagland. “The important thing to remember is that the county must keep up with population demands.”

“From an environmental aspect, this project is important because it will control the dust and decrease the number of requests to oil roads, which we hope will improve the health of residents,” says Collin County Judge Ron Harris.

“There are additional considerations to asphalting, too,” says Collin County Commissioner Jack Hatchell. “It takes a vehicle traveling at 50 miles per hour, an estimated 250 feet of stopping distance on wet rock, approximately 165 feet on dry rock and wet asphalt, yet only 110 feet on dry asphalt. There's a big gap between those numbers.”

Each year, Collin County plans to asphalt 50 miles of rock roads until the project is complete.

“I would like to commend the staff who has worked on this project over the last five years, “says Collin County Commissioner Phyllis Cole . “Their efforts will enhance the mobility throughout the county, save money and improve the environment.”

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