Capital Region mining industry providing big support to road crews

Road crews are out this spring working on roads and other construction projects. They’re being supported by a mining industry in the Capital Region that’s grown to become one of the largest in the country.

During its peak employment season last summer, the Albany metro area’s sand, clay, and refractory mineral mining industry averaged 957 jobs. Most of these jobs are specific to construction sand and gravel mining.

That’s nearly a 48% increase from five years ago.

There are 115 sand and gravel mines in the five-county Albany metro area, with the most in Saratoga County.

U.S. Department of Transportation data shows more than 10 million tons of gravel and 855,000 tons of sand freight originated in the greater Capital Region in 2017. Almost all of that sand and gravel stayed in New York state.