Arapahoe County's road-preservation race
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Arapahoe County is saving its good roads before they become teeth-rattling, budget-busting rebuilds.
Why it matters: The needs outpace funding. Preserving healthy pavement can curb backlogs and costs, road and bridge infrastructure manager Doug Stern says.
Driving the news: Road crews are working to preserve 116 lane miles by sealing cracks, restoring surfaces and blocking moisture, with the project expected to wrap up in September.
- Work began last month and spans quiet neighborhoods and heavily trafficked larger roads.
Zoom in: The county’s spending $2 million on preservation, its first dedicated funding since 2021.
- Voters approved Measure 1A in November 2024 — allowing the county to retain and spend revenue above TABOR limits.
The big picture: The county maintains 1,253 paved lane miles. About a third are rated “poor” or “very poor,” its 2025 report card said.
- The “very poor” share rose from 11.47% to 13% between 2024 and 2025.
Last year's road and bridge maintenance budget totaled $15.6 million, less than half the county's estimated $33.3 million annual need.
- Officials estimate it would take another $129 million to bring roads, bridges, signs and signals into “good” condition.
What they’re saying: Stern likens maintenance to treating a small cavity before it needs a root canal.
- Preserving good roads can seem counterintuitive when other streets are crumbling, he says, but letting them turn bad costs more.
Follow the money: Preservation costs about $14.80 per square yard, compared with $100 for full reconstruction.
Threat level: Front Range UV dries asphalt. Temperature swings open cracks.
- And seeping water softens soil underneath and creates potholes.
“Most people envision asphalt as being very, very hard,” Stern says. “But in our industry, the asphalt is only as strong as [the] material under it.”
Zoom out: Preservation sites include the Dove Hill Estates and Copperleaf developments, plus East Alameda Avenue and others.
- Copperleaf needs separate ground-up road-reconstruction projects.
Reality check: Stern says the county wants preservation mileage next year similar to this summer's, but inflation could shrink that plan.