Asphalt Paving Types

Perpetual

• Perpetual asphalt is based on the idea of using a thorough amount of layering to enhance the longevity of a particular road. Each layer is designed for a specific function. For instance, the bottom is paved with a flexible layer of pavement to absorb the burden of the load without cracking, while the thick middle layer is intended to create a firm, permanent casing. The top layer is made of "rut-resistant" asphalt, which is designed to remain rut-free for several years. Overall, this type of asphalt paving is built to last for long periods of time, while requiring only basic maintenance.

Porous

• Porous asphalt is designed especially for dispersing water in heavy rains. The top layer is filled with countless tiny gaps that allow the rainwater to seep through instead of building up on the surface and potentially causing cars to hydroplane along the road. Once the water seeps through the first layer of open-graded asphalt, there two to three more layers of stone bed, through which the water slowly filters, eventually ending up in the soil. While porous asphalt is typically more expensive than the more basic kinds, it is still one of the cheapest ways to combat rainwater build-up in areas prone to heavy rainfall.

Quiet

• As its name suggests, quiet asphalt was designed mainly for reducing noise along the road. More than just a nuisance, the level of sound on a road can reach painful decibel levels, which can not only damage hearing over a period of time, but cause numerous other disruptions, such sleeplessness and stress, all of which can lead to further health problems. Quiet asphalt is made up either a stone-matrix blend or an open-graded friction course, both of which can reduce the decibel level of the average road noise by as much as 5 decibels.

Warm-Mix

• The entire basis of warm-mix asphalt is the temperature under which it is heated and placed into the ground. The name "warm" is intended to contrast with the typical "hot" mix of asphalt, and its purpose is an environmentally friendly one. Reducing the temperature of the asphalt will lower the normal rate of emissions for the entire production and make it safer for both the workers paving the road and those passing by the construction site. Since this technology is relatively new, it is just now beginning to be implemented along major roads in Europe and the United States.