Planning future aggregate supply

What happens when our gravel runs out? 

aggregate

Maintaining a safe and reliable road network for the 200+ miles of non-paved roads in Western Larimer County requires a sustainable and cost-effective aggregate supply.

Larimer County is exploring long-term solutions to ensure available aggregate for future road maintenance. Several options are being considered: 

✔ Option 1:  Purchasing aggregate from commercial suppliers  

  • The County could buy gravel from commercial sources along the Front Range. 

  • Relying on commercial gravel from the open market limits the County's ability to control both the cost and quality of the materials needed for non-paved roads for decades to come.

  • Sourcing gravel from the Front Range (including the County-owned Strang Pit) requires aggregate to be long-hauled to roads in Western Larimer County. This increases wear and tear on County roads, has broader traffic impacts across the County, and results in overall higher road maintenance costs. 

✔ Option 2:  Purchasing or leasing private lands  

  • The County could lease or purchase land with natural deposits that could be processed into aggregate, similar to the County's Strang Pit. 

  • After gravel is extracted, the County would reclaim and restore the site according to federal, state, and county regulations. 

  • Finding and securing a suitable location presents challenges such as land availability, property costs, and accessibility to roadways to be maintained. However, this option could be a possible solution if an appropriate site is identified.

✔ Option 3: Partnering with federal or state agencies  

  • The County could lease public land for new gravel quarries. 

  • After gravel is extracted, the County would reclaim and restore the sites according to federal, state, and county regulations. 

  • This could be a flexible, cost-effective, and sustainable option for future aggregate needs. 

Based on the need for a sustainable and cost-effective aggregate supply to maintain non-paved roads, the County proposes developing small, geographically diverse quarries located close to the roads they will serve.

 

Learn more about current gravel sources.

Learn more about current activities to find new gravel sources.