Another unintended consequence of high gas prices

[TriSec]

Do you know any contractors? Specifically, the 'grunt' that moils about in the dirt, digging for sewer lines and septic tanks?

I bet they do driveways and road repair too.

In addition to having to 'cough up' at the pump to keep their machinery running, there's another new wrinkle in their income. The cost of asphalt is rising.

Get ready for some bumpy roads ahead.

The soaring cost of petroleum -- a primary ingredient of asphalt -- has forced many communities to shoulder a 50 percent increase in costs as crews head out to repave roads this summer. Asphalt sticker shock is creating heartburn for legions of highway chiefs, prompting many to significantly curtail the number of roads they intend to repair this season.

And the going may get even tougher. Two major asphalt suppliers for the region are warning of another 50 percent increase by Thanksgiving -- in addition to potential shortages. The news comes as public works crews in some areas hard hit by last month's record flooding are still patching sinkholes and replacing washed-out roadway shoulders. Communities are hoping federal emergency funds will cover most of those repairs.

``When we were building our budget a year ago, my paving program received a significant reduction because of needs in other places," said Bob Gravino, Ipswich's director of public works. ``Now, not only is the cost of materials going up, but the money I have is going down."

Ipswich's new asphalt contract, signed in April, jumped 44 percent in cost from a year ago. That, Gravino said, means Ipswich will repave only four of the nine roads it planned to tackle this summer, and then perhaps seal cracks in the other five until the town can afford to complete those projects.

``If you let a road degrade, it's just like when you let your house go until it's ready to fall down," Gravino said. ``It's going to cost you more to rebuild it."

So think about that this summer if you hire someone to do some work around your place, or if you see the public works crew out fixing the roads. Yet another benefit of the Bush "economy"!

[Divernan]

1. Home builder told me the cost of roofing shingles is also through the roof

Because that product is made from oil derivatives.

[FloridaPat]

2. How about all that stupid plastic we wrap everything in - it's all from

oil.