City of Warner Robins moves forward with road repairs amid rising costs

The average cost of repaving a mile of road will be $324,933, which the city says is a more than 20% increase from last year, and a more than 43% price jump from 2023.

WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Rising material and labor costs mean that funding for road repairs is covering fewer miles across Middle Georgia. But city officials in Warner Robins say they aren’t taking any shortcuts when it comes to keeping residents safe.

The city recently announced a $2.48 million road paving project, which will cover 22 roads and 7.37 lane miles. The average cost of repaving a mile of road will be $324,933, which the city says is a more than 20% increase from last year, and a more than 43% price jump from 2023. James Drinkard, the City Administrator for Warner Robins, says the price jump is due to higher asphalt and stone prices, caused by inflation and supply chain disruptions.

“We’re investing over $2 million a year in road paving,” Drinkard said. “But each year, we see that go shorter and shorter distances into improving our roadways. And that’s something that every city and county is facing.” 

Drinkard says residents often wonder when their roads will be paved. He says the city updates its road assessment list every three to four years, rating each based on need for improvement and what funding will allow.

“Road condition doesn’t change evenly over time,” Drinkard said. “You can have a road that right now is perfectly fine, and you go out there next year, and it is high on the list because something happened out there.” 

According to the city, a little more than $2 million of the project’s funding comes from a Georgia Department of Transportation grant. The remaining costs will be covered through Local Special Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) funds. Drinkard says the road repairs will begin next month, and residents can expect them to be completed within 6-8 months.