Douglas County maintains more than 200 miles of roads that connect neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and public services. These roads are a vital part of our everyday lives—but like many counties across the country, we’re facing real challenges in keeping them safe, functional, and well-maintained.
Why Road Maintenance Matters
Well-maintained roads support:
- Safe travel for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians
- Efficient emergency response times for fire, police, and medical services
- Reliable access to work, school, and local businesses
- Long-term cost savings by preventing deterioration that leads to costly reconstruction
When road maintenance is delayed, small problems become major repairs—and those repairs are significantly more expensive.
The Challenges We Face
Douglas County’s roads are showing increasing signs of wear, and the funding available to maintain them haven’t kept pace with the rising costs of road repair and replacement.
Key issues include:
- Rising Costs: The cost of asphalt has more than doubled since 2018, from $62 to $137 per ton. Construction inflation overall has increased by 59 percent since 2021.
- Aging Infrastructure: 32 percent of our paved roads are below a fair pavement condition rating and now require full reconstruction, not just surface maintenance. This does not account for those roads constructed out of recycled pavement grindings which are not rated.
- Limited Funding: Fuel Tax, which provides 50 percent of funding for regional road maintenance and 88 percent of funding for local road maintenance, is declining due to improved vehicle fuel efficiency and the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles.
- Backlog & Shortfall: Douglas County currently faces a $65 million backlog in existing paved road maintenance projects and an annual funding gap of $6 million just to maintain roads at their current condition.
What Happens Without Action?
If no changes are made to how roads are funded or maintained:
- Road conditions will continue to decline, increasing safety risks and driver frustration.
- The timely provision of basic services like routine road maintenance, snow removal, and street sweeping could be impacted.
- Long-term costs will rise, as reactive repairs and full reconstructions replace preventative maintenance.
Get Involved: Douglas County Roads Workshop
To help inform the public and explore possible solutions, Douglas County is hosting a Roads Workshop in April 2025.
Event Details:
When: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Courthouse, 1616 8th Street, Minden, NV
Who Should Attend: All Douglas County residents, property owners, business owners, and interested community members
This public workshop will include a presentation on road conditions, a look at current funding, and a chance for attendees to ask questions and share feedback.
Let’s Talk About the Road Ahead
Douglas County is committed to transparency and public involvement. Residents are encouraged to stay informed, attend public meetings, and learn more about the condition of our local infrastructure.
For more information, visit our Roads Maintenance webpage here.