The Difference Between Pavement and Gravel

Maintenance

• Gravel proves easier and much less costly to install than pavement. Both require regular maintenance, especially when used as roads. The maintenance demands for gravel roads become problematic when more than 100 vehicles travel them daily, according to Otsego County, Michigan. Large trucks sometimes damage gravel roads, while pavement is more vulnerable to frost heaves. Old pavement must be removed before repaving a road. Gravel roads also produce dust, which maintenance personnel can reduce by spreading brine.

Speeds

• Perhaps the most important difference relates to acceptable speeds on these surfaces and their consequences. Automobiles and bicycles cannot travel safely at high speeds on gravel surfaces, especially with hills or sharp curves (the same goes for deteriorating pavement roads). This makes them undesirable for large parking lots and major roads. However, an advantage of gravel in residential areas and small parking lots is that it encourages drivers to travel at slower speeds. This reduces noise, improves safety for pedestrians and helps to prevent traffic accidents.

Winter

• It is more difficult to remove snow from gravel because it doesn't offer a flat surface and it may move around. The website for Bloomfield Township, Michigan, indicates that plows usually push some loose gravel into grass alongside the roads. Homeowners must remove the gravel from their lawns and road maintenance personnel have to replace missing gravel. The Canada Safety Council warns that gravel can become dangerous when using a snowblower; you should avoid using such equipment with the stones. At the same time, winter causes more costly damage to pavement surfaces as they easily become slippery with ice.

Markings

• Pavement in good condition allows maintenance personnel to draw lines, and place other useful markings on the surface to aid drivers in parking or navigation. They can mark areas such as lanes, road shoulders and parking spots for disabled people. Gravel stones vary in shape and size, making it difficult to draw clear, straight lines; they can also shift around and break up such markings. This only becomes a concern when creating large parking lots or roads with two or more lanes.