Perpetual pavement is a flexible but strong asphalt pavement that doesn't exhibit structural damage even when very high traffic flows over long periods of time. They’re made up of multiple layers of durable asphalt. The bottom layer is designed to be strong but flexible to resist strains that could cause cracks to form from the bottom up. A similar intermediate layer adds additional structural protection, and the final layer, made of rut-resistant hot-mix asphalt (HMA), requires only minimal maintenance.
These surfaces have been around a long time. Some of the oldest perpetual pavements have been around since before the 1960s. The surfaces created then that were well designed and executed have provided very long usefulness without much maintenance even with heavy traffic. These days, advancements in milling, recycling, and asphalt production technologies make it even more likely that perpetual pavements will perform better and longer.
It might seem obvious that pavement that lasts a very long time without requiring major construction fixes (called perpetual pavement) is a good thing. But what are the specific advantages?
Saves Time
If maintenance does need to be performed on a perpetual pavement, only the top layer needs to be addressed, saving time. Commuters are less inconvenienced when maintenance is quick and easy.
Saves Money
Perpetual pavement saves money because it doesn’t require a full reconstruction as often as other surface types. Re-doing a pavement down to the surface requires a lot more time and effort for planning and execution. But perpetual pavements usually only need the top surface patched or re-done.
Improves Visual Contrast
Asphalt (the key component of perpetual pavement) is proven to be a safer driving surface. It allows for better visual contrast with road lines and other markings.
Decreases Skidding
Asphalt pavements are also proven to provide greater skid resistance than other surface types, helping keep people safer.
Uses Recyclable Material
Since asphalt is one of the most highly recyclable materials, and perpetual pavements are made of asphalt, perpetual pavements are also highly recyclable. (Of course, since they last so long, they won’t need recycling for a long, long time, which is even better for the environment!)
As you can see, there are several advantages of perpetual pavement. If you need a paving solution you can count on to last, contact Wolf Paving today to discuss our perpetual pavement options.
