The Maine Department of Transportation has suspended all paving projects because of the rising cost of asphalt.
DOT officials say the cost for liquid asphalt has increased from $307.50 per ton in January to $765 per ton this month, according to Portland news station WCSH 6.
The Maine DOT’s original plan was to spend $105 million paving about 825 miles of road this year. However, the department will only get 730 miles of road paved at an anticipated cost of $107 million, the news station reported.