More than 94 percent of the nation’s two million miles of streets and highways are paved with asphalt. That is because state and federal highway departments have long know that asphalt pavements are smooth, cost effective to construct and maintain, exceptionally durable, environmentally friendly and 100 percent recyclable.
The first asphalt road was paved in Babylon between 625 and 604 b.c. In 1872, more modern asphalt techniques were applied to Battery Park and Fifth Avenue in New York City. The introduction of Henry Ford’s Model A in 1903 and the subsequent popularity of the Model T in 1908, forced cities to begin considering the application of asphalt paving as a way to ensure their vehicles would not get mired in the mud, and to control clouds of dust congesting the air.
Since its early use, asphalt has been researched and developed to become the most versatile and resilient paving product available. Not only is it used for new, full depth pavement construction, it is also appropriately used to resurfaces areas already covered with asphalt or deteriorated PCC. Due to its flexibility, asphalt is well suited to different climates, weather conditions and applications and varying thickness.
