Gravel cyclists, farmers, and rural road enthusiasts were stunned this week as federal lawmakers announced a sweeping new Gravel Tariff Act that will impose fees on every unpaved mile of road in the United States. The policy, set to take effect in January 2026, will cost states $1,200 per mile of gravel road annually, forcing Iowa officials to make a drastic decision—paving 90% of the state’s gravel roads by 2027 to avoid the financial burden.

With over 72,000 miles of gravel roads, Iowa leads the nation in unpaved infrastructure, making it the hardest-hit state under the new tariffs. At the current rate, Iowa would owe nearly $86.4 million per year in gravel tariffs, an amount state lawmakers say is “simply unsustainable.”

The Push to Pave: Goodbye Gravel, Hello Asphalt

To counter the massive cost, the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) has proposed an emergency infrastructure bill that would allocate nearly $12 billion over the next three years to pave an estimated 65,000 miles of gravel roads. This will make Iowa the first state in the Midwest to eliminate almost all of its gravel network, replacing it with asphalt and concrete.

“We understand the deep-rooted love Iowans have for their gravel roads,” said IDOT spokesperson Mikel Derby, “but at $1,200 per mile in tariffs, we have no choice but to modernize our roadways. This is the biggest transportation shift in Iowa history.”

Scraping Gravel to Make Concrete? The ‘Re-Pavement’ Plan

In a bizarre twist, IDOT has also announced a "Re-Pavement Initiative" that will involve scraping existing gravel from Iowa’s rural roads and shoulders to manufacture new concrete, which will then be used to pave over the very roads where the gravel once existed.

Under this program, thousands of miles of limestone, crushed rock, and gravel surfaces will be harvested, processed into cement aggregate, and repurposed into concrete roadways—a process that IDOT claims will maximize resource efficiency while modernizing the state’s infrastructure.

"We understand the deep connection Iowans have to their gravel roads," said IDOT’s chief engineer, Tony Gustafson, "so instead of importing materials, we’re using the very gravel riders and farmers love to create a stronger, longer-lasting surface. In a way, you could say the gravel isn’t going away—it’s just evolving."

The Math Behind the Madness

IDOT estimates that for every 10 miles of gravel road scraped, enough raw material can be extracted to produce one mile of concrete pavement—meaning every 10 miles of gravel lost equals one mile of new asphalt or concrete.

To compensate for the reduced road network, Iowa counties will be required to implement a new “Gravel Redistribution Policy”, which will designate select areas as Gravel Heritage Zones where preserved gravel routes will be maintained for historical and recreational purposes.

Impact on Gravel Racing and Cycling

Iowa has long been a gravel-riding mecca, hosting legendary events such as Spotted Horse, The Spring Classics, and Iowa Wind and Rock, and countless grassroots races that rely on the state’s expansive backroads. With paving projects already slated to begin in late 2025, race organizers are scrambling to find alternative routes.

“This is a disaster for gravel racing,” said Chris McQueen, director of the Iowa Gravel Series. “We’re looking at losing 90% of our courses. Are we supposed to rename it the ‘Glenwood Concrete Crit?’ That doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.”

“If IDOT thinks they can manufacture a ‘better’ surface than gravel, they don’t understand what makes gravel great in the first place", says Cole Ledbetter from the Iowa Gravel Project. "It’s the unpredictability—the rough edges, the shifting conditions—that make it such a unique experience. You can’t engineer that in a lab.”

However, some race promoters are hopeful that the Re-Gravelization Initiative will create new opportunities.

Iowa Bicycle Shops are also feeling the pressure. Local bike retailer Ryno Velo in Ankeny has reported a sudden surge in road bike sales as riders begin shifting away from gravel-specific setups.

“It’s wild—our stock of 40mm tires and flared drop bar bikes are just sitting here collecting dust,” said shop owner Ryan Blane. “Meanwhile, every Lycra-clad roadie in Iowa is celebrating.”

"If we can get the right blend of crushed concrete and limestone fines to make the concrete, we might actually create a faster, more consistent race surface—one that rolls smoother than traditional gravel but still kicks up that signature dust,” said gravel surface specialist Dr. Chip Rutt. “We’re even testing recycled airport runway material to enhance durability and speed, making it one of the fastest surfaces ever.”

Farmers and Rural Communities Push Back

The farming community is equally frustrated by the proposed changes, with many arguing that paved roads are less durable for heavy machinery and will lead to costly maintenance issues.

“You ever try to pull a combine onto a freshly paved road? It’s a nightmare,” said local farmer Dale McKormick of Boone County. “Gravel roads have worked fine for over a century—now we’re supposed to pay a gravel tax or deal with potholes the size of cattle?”

Meanwhile, rural residents in some counties are petitioning for their roads to be "de-graveled" before the tariffs take effect, allowing them to revert to dirt, level-B status before the taxes kick in.

Could This Be a Gravel Industry Conspiracy?

Some skeptics believe the Gravel Tariff Act is part of a larger conspiracy driven by Big Asphalt, a term used to describe the powerful paving lobby. Reports have surfaced linking lawmakers behind the bill to major paving contractors and concrete suppliers.

“There’s a paper trail connecting this legislation to private asphalt companies looking to cash in,” said investigative journalist for KGIN. “We’ve seen this kind of thing before—first, they came for our cobblestones, now they’re coming for our gravel.”

Adding fuel to the conspiracy theory, a leaked IDOT document suggests that some freshly paved roads may be 'strategically neglected' to fall apart within 5–7 years—just in time for repaving budgets to spike again.

What’s Next for Iowa’s Gravel Roads?

While the fate of Iowa’s gravel roads hangs in the balance, one thing is clear—gravel cyclists, farmers, and rural communities aren’t giving up without a fight. Advocacy groups are organizing protests, and some counties are exploring the idea of privately funding gravel road maintenance to bypass the tariffs.

As of today, Governor Kim Reynolds has not issued an official statement on whether Iowa will seek an exemption from the tariff.

For now, gravel riders are encouraged to get in their miles while they can—before the smooth roads of tomorrow pave over the dirt roads of yesterday.

#SaveOurGravel | #Pavegate | #BigAsphaltConspiracy