Commercial Paving for the greater Chicagoland and Midwest Area!

Commercial Paving for the greater Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Area!

What Is the Process for Asphalt Paving Construction?

To the uninitiated, it may seem that asphalt paving projects only require dumping a load of asphalt and then compacting it. In reality, the construction of an asphalt pavement requires considerably more work. Before the first car drives onto the pavement, your contractor must plan, prepare, and install all the necessary components for your project.

How Do Contractors Plan a Paving Project?

Asphalt companies and paving projects vary, so there is no single approach to planning that works for every contractor or every project. However, a typical asphalt paving company will handle the following tasks during the planning stages.
  • Design the pavement by considering the loads it will support, the terrain surrounding the site, and the soil that will lie beneath the new construction.
  • Calculate the amount of hot mix asphalt and other materials that will be needed for the project.
  • Determine the types and numbers of machines, workers, tools, and supplies that will be needed.
  • Evaluate what will need to be done to ensure a safe working environment, including traffic control measures.
  • Prepare a schedule to ensure that the equipment and specialists will be available throughout the job.
  • Schedule the delivery of truckloads of HMA from the asphalt company.
  • Secure any necessary permits if they are the responsibility of the paving company.

How Do Contractors Prepare for an Asphalt Paving Project?

Whether you hire a road or parking lot paving contractor, there are tasks that must be completed before the actual construction can begin.
  • On some jobs, a paving contractor will need to construct an access road to get the necessary heavy equipment from the nearest public thoroughfare to the exact location.
  • The site will need to be cleared. Depending on the condition of the site, clearing could involve the demolition of an existing pavement, the removal of trees and other vegetation, the razing of existing structures, or the removal of fences or walls.
  • The paving contractor will grade the site to establish the correct slope so that the pavement will drain efficiently. Typically, heavy equipment will be used to handle the bulk of the grading, but smoothing and leveling may be performed manually on some projects.
What Is the Process for Asphalt Paving Construction?

What Does an Asphalt Paving Company Consider the Installation Process?

Companies that provide asphalt paving services typically count the subgrade, base, and pavement itself as comprising the installation process.

  • The subgrade is the ground on which the pavement will rest, so it must be well-compacted before the installation can continue. If the soil is unstable or otherwise insufficient, the contractor may remove some of it so that it can be replaced with more suitable soil.
  • Although some asphalt pavements can be constructed directly on top of the subgrade, it is more common for asphalt companies to install a base. Depending on the project, the base will consist of crushed stone, gravel, or a similar aggregate.
  • After completing the base, or compacting the subgrade if no base was required, the contractor can begin the actual installation work. The first layer will be installed on top of the base or subgrade, then the asphalt will be compacted. Layer by layer, asphalt will be installed and compacted to build the pavement. The final course of asphalt will be the surface layer or driving course.
  • The contractor may perform other steps, including a final roll, before inspecting the pavement with the client.

If you need a dependable Chicago paving contractor with the experience, tools, and staffing to provide you with concrete or asphalt paving services, you can count on Black Hawk Paving and Construction. We offer a full range of services, including asphalt paving, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt milling, concrete repairs, site grading, parking lot striping, asphalt repair, car stops, excavations, hot crack sealing, sewer repair, traffic signage, and asphalt fabric. We serve national chains as well as local clients. Our reputation is immaculate, and our references are impeccable. For a free quote, send an email to Info@BlackHawkPaving.com, call 708-479-0400, or submit the online form.