The Iran war is causing road paving problems in Maine

The Iran war is causing road paving problems in Maine

Orange spray paint marks a pothole on Sawyer Road between Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough in July 2024. Road maintenance to fill potholes and repave may be delayed because of rising material costs. Photo by Sawyer Loftus of the Bangor Daily News.Daniel O’Connor is a Report for America corps member who covers rural government as part of the partnership between The Maine Monitor and the Bangor Daily News, with additional support from BDN and Monito…

The Iran war is causing road paving problems in Maine

The Knox County town of Hope is waiting for asphalt prices to drop before signing road repaving contracts, an early sign that local governments are being hit by price spikes from the war with Iran. Oil prices skyrocketed after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran nearly a month ago. Inflation on oil-based products like asphalt is starting to draw attention from local officials in Maine. As the spring re-paving season approaches, state an…