County eyes new method to reduce gravel road maintenance, prevent potholes

Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield appeared before the Lyon County Commission Thursday to discuss a potential new method to stabilize gravel roads, reduce the need for frequent grading and prevent pothole formation.

The new method would involve applying a proprietary road stabilization product by mixing it approximately eight inches deep into the base of gravel roads. The product is designed to harden and stabilize the road surface, with several counties in Iowa and other areas with increased traffic and severe weather using it extensively.

Scritchfield said using the product could allow the county to spend less time and money grading roads.

"A lot of these areas that use it will claim that they do it once, and they don't put a grader on it for two or three years after that. That means no rock, no time spent going up and down the road with a grader," he said.

Scritchfield said the treatment could also help prevent pothole formation by reducing rutting and pumping, two precursors to potholes. Other jurisdictions, such as Johnson County, have used the product for dust control - something Scritchfield hesitated to promote as an expectation of the treatment.

Scritchfield estimated the treatment would cost approximately $10,000 per mile and would likely involve adding rock and reshaping roads before application. A test project is in the works, with a section of Road J south of the Road and Bridge office, across the river and east of the highway, identified as the testing site for the new method.

Commissioner Chris Bartel said the approach made sense given the potential for long-term savings.

"It just makes sense to me," Bartel said.

The idea came after Scritchfield attended a national county engineers conference in Texas, where engineers shared ways their counties have improved processes and saved money.

Scritchfield also provided a brief update on construction of the new Rocky Ford Bridge. Two weeks ago, he appeared before the commission following a failed deck pour that left rebar visible through the concrete driving surface.

As of now, the county is still uncertain about the extent of testing and repairs, with ongoing discussions between county officials and the contractors handling the bridge construction. Scritchfield said two weeks ago that testing could take approximately 21 days.

Scritchfield said he is seeking an extended warranty on the affected sections of the bridge, citing concerns about potential future issues if large-scale repairs are not completed before construction concludes.

"I don't want to be back here in five years having to redo that thing," he said.

Commissioner Doug Peck was not in attendance at Thursday's meeting.

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This story was originally published April 26, 2026 at 9:41 AM.