'None of us saw this coming'

The Globe and Mail recently ran an article reporing that city road work budgets are being squeezed by high petroleum prices (thanks to John on the TLC list for sharing this link).

Liquid asphalt, the "black" in blacktop, is made from petroleum, and petroleum prices have been hovering around $70 per barrel since last summer. As a result, materials prices have risen, contractors' profits have narrowed, and cities are having to scale back and push out their road work schedules.

( Full story here )