Hello World! Welcome Friends! According to recent federal statistics, more than a third of all roads in the United States are still unpaved. This is due to a number of reasons that include cost, location and accessibility, but many of these roads are actually becoming paved over time.
But paving a road, even one that’s not all that long and won’t be heavily used, is an undertaking that requires a good amount of advance planning and a sizable amount of time and effort – as well as money, of course.
“There are several steps that go into constructing a paved road, each requiring attention to detail and careful planning and implementation,” says Jimmy Bushell, a senior project manager with ASC Paving of San Antonio.
It should also be noted that paving a previously unpaved road is not going to be inexpensive. Current national estimates show that you can expect to spend between $2 and $3 million for every mile of new, paved roadway in the United States.
This is a national average, mind you, so it could be less or even more depending on your unique circumstances.
New Road Construction Phase 1 – Planning & Design
Long before the heavy machinery comes in to begin moving dirt around, there are several hours that go into actually planning the project. It’s the new road construction version of “measure twice, cut once.”
Many things go into the actual planning and design phase, including estimating traffic volume, determining what type of soil you’re dealing with, locating and marking locations of utility and sewer lines and any environmental concerns.
These items, and likely several more, need to be recorded and saved for later use. It may not seem like it, but this is an essential and extremely important part of the construction process.
Spend the time now to save headaches and potential problems later on in the project.
New Road Construction Phase 2 – Excavation & Earthwork
Now you can bring in that heavy machinery and get to work!
This is the phase of the project when you need to clear the area where the road will be constructed from things like trees, shrubs, bushes and other vegetation.
Once this is complete, the rest of this part of the process includes mounting the road to give it its shape, grading the road to be sure that it’s smooth and level and aggregating it by laying a base of soil, concrete and limestone to stabilize the roadway.
This will all involve a mixture of excavation machinery, bulldozers and graders, and also includes constructing curbs, gutters and drains.
New Road Construction Phase 3 – Asphalt Paving
Now comes the fun part, making the new road actually look like a road.
This final step in the construction process involves pouring and laying the asphalt, which can actually include up to four layers. How many layers depends on the estimated amount of traffic you’re expecting, as well as the climate where the road is being constructed.
Layers include the gravel layer, which helps to eliminate the effects of freezing temperatures, as well as the base layer and the surface layer or layers. This is where you might want to bring in your specialized asphalt equipment to get the road finished, as well as repair any problems with the road at a later date.
New Road Construction Phase 4 – Enjoy Your New Road!
You’ve put in the time, invested the money and patiently waited for the process to be completed. Now it’s time for everyone to enjoy the new roadway that you’ve constructed.
Whether it’s a private road or one for public use, having an actual paved roadway should make life a little easier for all involved.
Click the links below for any posts you have missed:
Why You Should Call Tampa, FL Your Next Home
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How to Stop Garage Car Fumes From Polluting Indoor Air
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Toodles,
To have a more durable asphalt road, it is best to stabilize the base at a minimum of 200mm before sealing of asphalt. However there are few methods to stabilize the base depending on the terrain.