Highway 81 south of Dover is undergoing resurfacing work and, at least for now, the project should wrap up this week.
Matt Mitchell, P.E., ODOT Division Engineer for District 4, said the project includes a hot in-place recycle (HIR) treatment followed by a 1-inch asphalt overlay designed to improve the driving surface and extend the life of the pavement.
The process uses a specialized “pavement train” that completes an entire lane in a single pass. The equipment superheats the existing asphalt, recycles it, and places it back on the roadway as it moves forward.
The contractor, Haskell Lemon Construction Co. of Oklahoma City, is performing the HIR work. The rehabilitation process reheats and reuses a portion of the existing pavement, reducing material waste and construction costs while improving ride quality.
Weather permitting, contractors expect to complete the HIR portion of the project within the next few days. The asphalt overlay is currently scheduled for mid-June, allowing approximately two weeks for the recycled pavement to cure and stabilize before the final surface layer is applied.
Once the overlay is finished, crews will mill new edge-line rumble strips and install final pavement striping. The project is expected to be substantially complete in early July, weather permitting. Photos by AAN Jack Quirk
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