Road construction can be a lengthy, disruptive process—so ensuring your project stays on schedule is one of your most important responsibilities.

Even before any groundwork can be completed, the planning stages of some roadways can take months of soil analysis by engineers. Public consultation can also be a factor in road-building plans. These activities are crucial in defining the scope of the project and estimating potential risks.

Once the planning stage is complete, contractors bid on the job. With a winning bid selected, further land surveying begins. Geographical obstacles are removed, and the foundation of the roadway can be cut, filled, and compacted with different layers of soil and aggregate material. This ensures that the pavement will have a stable surface to sit on.

At this point, drainage systems and electrical infrastructure can be put in place before the pavement material is laid.

Asphalt is the chosen pavement material for many road construction projects due to its low cost—but concrete is becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons:

• Concrete is rigid, so it withstands greater traffic loads for longer.
• It’s more weather and chemical resistant than asphalt.
• Asphalt’s binding ingredient is bitumen—which is derived from crude oil and releases toxic chemical fumes as it cures. Concrete has less impact on the environment.
• Its overall durability means much lower maintenance costs over time and longer life cycles for finished roadways.

In short, concrete roads are a better long-term investment.

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