Asphalt FAQs

Asphalt is the most widely used surface pavement in the United State with as much as 94 percent of the roads in the country using asphalt pavement. If the asphalt paving project is properly designed the project should remain in use for several decades. Prior to committing to an asphalt pavement project, here are some Asphalt FAQs with answers from the National Asphalt Paving Association.

Can asphalt projects be customized for local environments?

Yes. Asphalt may be engineered for different weather conditions. In areas with a lot of rain, an open-graded pavement surface is recommended, which will allow water to drain out through the pavement structure. Open-graded pavement allows water to drain off of the surface with reduces the risk of hydroplaning.

Asphalt pavement may also be constructed to limit the amount of noise in urban areas. Asphalt is an adaptable pavement.

What are some recent trends in asphalt construction?

Longer-lasting project or perpetual pavement is a trend in asphalt construction. Even in heavily traveled surfaces such as Interstate Highways, perpetual pavement lasts for decades with only surface repairs necessary for continued use.

What are some of the different types of asphalt pavement?

Open-graded pavement has already been mentioned. Another type of asphalt pavement is stone-matrix asphalt or SMA. This mix is strong and extremely durable. It also has the additional benefit of reducing noise pollution.