LITTLE VALLEY - Two Cattaraugus County road projects in the Olean area have gone nearly $700,000 over budget due to rising asphalt and diesel fuel costs.

Mark Burr, engineering director for the county Public Works Department, said the $1.6 million Haskell Road project in the town of Hinsdale is now $400,000 over budget due to rising asphalt prices - a direct result of skyrocketing crude oil prices.

On Buffalo Road in the town of Allegany between the Olean city line and Five Mile Road, the $525,000 estimated cost, which was mostly asphalt, has ballooned to about $800,000, Mr. Burr told members of the county Legislature’s Public Works Committee on Wednesday.

The total estimated cost overruns on both paving projects due to asphalt and fuel price increases is about $675,000, Mr. Burr said.

Mr. Burr said Deputy Commissioner Tony Capito had found sources to cover the increased costs without affecting other summer construction projects.

“Hopefully asphalt prices will stabilize or come down in September,” Mr. Burr said. “We have no control over it. Hopefully we’ll get a break in September” when much of the Haskell Road paving will be done. That would lessen the amount of additional money needed to complete the projects.

In other action, the Public Works Committee signed out a resolution to authorize talks with Public Works Department unions for a four-day work week next year. The resolution, which was referred back to the committee by the full county Legislature last month for clarification, will not include dates the four-day work week would be in effect.

Sponsor William Sprague, D-Yorkshire, offered to pull the resolution if the committee members didn’t want to sign it out. He said it would save the county and employees fuel and would be more efficient. It is already in effect in Allegany County and in some municipalities in Cattaraugus County.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said.

Public Works Committee Chairman Dick Giardini, D-Allegany, who supports the four-day week, said the union needed to sign off on the negotiations before it is approved by the county Legislature.

(Contact reporter Rick Miller at rmiller@oleantimesherald.com)

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