The Impact of Heavy Traffic on Asphalt Wear and Tear

Pavement Fatigue

Asphalt pavement is durable, and long lasting pavement solution that when cared for can be an affordable alternative to concrete pavement. Like any material undergoing heavy use, an asphalt road or lot that sees heavy traffic may experience pavement fatigue. When asphalt surfaces experience high traffic the wear and tear can shorten their lifespan and the damage done to the pavement becomes apparent very quickly. While asphalt does have the unique quality of being somewhat flexible, under a constant traffic load of heavy machinery and vehicles asphalt surfaces begin to experience asphalt deterioration. The asphalt pavement will get stress fractures, which reduces the durability. If the damage from the wear and tear is ignored the asphalt surface will crack more and more allowing moisture to penetrate the asphalt layers and cause even more damage. This fatigue wears more and more on the asphalt surface and the asphalt layers below. Crack filling is a practice to repair stress damage from heavy traffic and help maintain the structural integrity of the pavement. If you’re managing a road or property and an asphalt surface is getting heavy use from constant traffic, look for signs of damage to the pavement and contact a professional concrete and asphalt company.

Storing Heaving Machinery on Asphalt Surfaces

Heavy machinery is one of the big culprits for asphalt pavement damage. The weight of heavy machinery can cause asphalt depressions to occur, especially if these vehicles are being stored on the pavement long-term. Depressions and cracks in the asphalt pavement will likely lead to more asphalt cracking and other forms of pavement deterioration. Even asphalt roads that aren’t heavily trafficked may see this same style of pavement deterioration if the vehicles are heavy trucks, or any sort of vehicle carrying a heavy cargo load. These commercial vehicles can have a dramatic impact on asphalt pavement in a very short amount of time. If you plan to store large vehicles or machinery on an asphalt lot it’s best to plan for this. By increasing the thickness of each layer you protect the subgrade soil from experiencing high levels of stress. If you do plan to store heavy machinery on the asphalt, a best practice would be to have the machinery moved somewhat frequently to avoid depressions, cracking, or other forms of damage to the pavement.

Using A Thicker Asphalt Pavement for High Traffic Load

Because asphalt is poured in multiple layers the thickness of the pavement can be customized depending on the traffic the road is likely to see. A home driveway may only require a couple of inches of asphalt to provide a sufficient and durable place to park non-commercial vehicles. However, when it comes to commercial asphalt we typically want to see much thicker layers. The base layer alone, which connects the subgrade with the top layer, is sometimes made 8 inches thick. This layer is often made much thicker in situations where the road or lot will be experiencing heavy cargo loads and heavy traffic. A binder course layer made up of bitumen is added after the base and can be up to 4 more inches in thickness. The surface layer is then only a couple of inches and is what you see when we look at a finished asphalt road. A commercial asphalt parking lot or road should be around a foot deep depending on the expected use. If you have any questions regarding commercial asphalt pavements for high traffic roads or heavy loads please reach out to the Tolliver & Curl Paving office today.

Common Signs of Asphalt Wear and Tear

There are a handful of common signs of heavy wear when inspecting asphalt. By keeping a watchful eye for pavement wear you can prevent expected wear and tear from creating widespread damage. Potholes forming are a sign that pavement cracking has not been maintained and this should be addressed right away. A pothole that is left untreated will continue to spread further damage and allow moisture to damage multiple layers of the asphalt pavement. Edge cracking is often a sign that the ground underneath the asphalt could be eroding away; by having this fixed you can stop your asphalt road from beginning to crumble. Asphalt depressions are almost always an indicator of too much stress from heavy traffic or heavy machinery. If you’re noticing areas of compacted layers you may need to speak to an asphalt professional about repairs and preventative measures; by occasionally diverting traffic or moving stored equipment you can avoid depressions from occurring again. By spending a very small amount of time inspecting your asphalt you can determine if any signs of wear and tear are present. If your commercial asphalt pavement hasn’t been inspected in a long time, reach out to Tolliver & Curl Paving to get a professional opinion on the state of your road.

Tolliver & Curl Paving Services

The Tolliver & Curl Paving team specializes in commercial concrete and asphalt. As asphalt experts our team repairs surfaces, potholes, and provinces asphalt resurfacing. We provide a sealcoating service to increase the overall durability of your asphalt surface and create a protective layer to reduce general maintenance and wear and tear. To extend the life of asphalt we offer a service called crackfilling to seal up cracks and stop moisture and other substances from seeping into the asphalt and causing the materials to break down or crack apart.

Asphalt Paving Experts

Our team of professional concrete and asphalt contractors have poured, repaired, and installed countless commercial asphalt roads and parking lots. With over 70 years of paving commercial asphalt Tolliver & Curl Paving can provide thorough estimates and create a plan of action based on how you see your commercial pavement being used. We will work with you to determine if your pavement will receive heavy traffic and how to best create the right asphalt pavement for your business. We are based in Central Ohio and have been pouring concrete and asphalt across Columbus for over seventy years. Contact Tolliver & Curl Paving today for your asphalt paving and maintenance needs.