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Drivers could be in for bumpy ride with road projects cut due to high oil prices

High oil prices could be affecting the number of potholes Long Islanders are feeling on the roads.

News 12 Staff

May 20, 2022, 10:01 PM

Updated 995 days ago

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High oil prices could be affecting the number of potholes Long Islanders are feeling on the roads.
The main ingredient in filling potholes and resurfacing roads is petroleum, meaning roads projects are getting overly expensive or cut.
The price of asphalt used to pave street and diesel fuel for trucks to repave roads have gone through the roof.
"Anything petroleum-based, the costs have doubled," says Louis Vechia, of Suffolk Paving, one of the paving contractors on Long Island.
The Town of Brookhaven has more than 3,700 lane miles of road. A good portion of those roads were supposed to be repaved this year.
Officials say 15% or more of the roads will not be getting new surfaces this year due to the high prices.
Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Daniel Losquadro says his office is trying to find money to make up the price difference by pulling from other projects, but the costs are too much.
"We want to get as many roads paved as possible, but no matter what we do here, there are going to be fewer roads paved this year than last year," Losquadro says.
The Highway Department is trying to prioritize projects to see which roads will get paved and which won't.
They say the only solution would be more money infused into the budget or for oil prices to come down