Published: August 13, 2008 11:06 am         

Precinct 2 tries chemical dust control

A Commissioner serving the southeastern portion of Cooke County said his first foray into using dust control asphalt on gravel roads has met with some success.

Steve Key, Precinct 2 Commissioner, said a special type of emulsified asphalt was lain on County Road 248 near FRF Estates, on West Spring Creek Road in sections, on CR 211 behind Lake Kiowa, and in other places where residents have complained of increasing amounts of dust.

Other locations include patches on CRs 265, 220 and 295, mostly in front of houses in close proximity to roads.

“It’s a trial, and that we’re trying to find out if it works in the long run,” Key said, not wanting to give the idea that the dust control is readily available.

“But we’re trying,” he added.

A feature story on dust control throughout the county appeared in the March 29 Register.

The emulsified asphalt when mixed with water can be sprayed on a typical gravel road. The liquid seals what is known as the “fines” on the road — fine particulate matter which is the main culprit of the dust clouds seen behind vehicles. When the emulsified asphalt mix is hardened, the road is by no means considered paved, but the billows left behind a rapidly moving vehicle are significantly reduced.

The problem is cost, Key said, and that the treatment only lasts 2-4 months per application.

“The cost of our oil-based products are going up, and so is the cost of fixing up our roads,” Key said.

A three-quarter-mile stretch on CR 248 cost Precinct 2 around $400-$500, Key said, but that price just went up on Tuesday. A Precinct 2 worker at the county barn in Valley View informed Key a company producing the emulsified asphalt went bankrupt, with plans of re-organizing. The company was charging $1.95 per gallon when Key purchased the asphalt, but the new price will be near $3.50 per gallon.

The rise in price accompanies the increased cost all motorists are paying for gasoline, Key said, especially with diesel prices hovering around $4 per gallon.

“All the commissioners are in the same boat, in that we’re struggling with the cost of materials and fuel,” he said, adding that plans to pave or chip-and-seal roads may be affected.

At least one group of residents decided to kick in some assistance for Precinct 2. At Monday’s Commissioners Court meeting, County Judge Bill Freeman, along with Commissioners Key, Gary Hollowell and Al Smith voted on a list of general consent items which included accepting a $30,000 donation.

Residents of Chisam Road and Highpoint Lane, located near the Cooke-Denton county line, made the donation so Key could chip and seal their road. Key said the county will pay for the base materials and provide the labor.

On April 29 in Lake Kiowa, a forum addressed rising complaints over dust on County Road 211, which runs on the northeast side of the gated community. Key said at the meeting he has plans to chip and seal a mile of that road as funds are available.

It can cost up to $50,000 to chip and seal a mile of road, according to previous reports.

A number of complaints have stemmed from County Road 2070, located north of Valley View near the Spring Creek community, also in Key’s precinct.

Many of the complaints were not just about dust, but from flying rocks and the alleged danger large oilfield tanker trucks brought to the once desolate farm road. Peak Oilfield Services began operations there about half a year ago.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to lower the speed limits on County Roads 2070 and 248 and West Spring Creek Road and Hockley Creek Road to 35, according to Tuesday’s Register.

Key said the trucks — many of which are hauling waste water to disposal sites — are signs of a booming economy.

“But those heavy trucks tear up the roads in a hurry,” Key said.

Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net