Baldwin County Shares How the Road Resurfacing Process Works

As resurfacing work continues on County Road 48 between Silverhill and Fairhope; the Baldwin County Commission is taking the opportunity to share information about how the roadway resurfacing process works and the steps crews take before and after paving.

While the placement of fresh asphalt is often the most visible part of the process, resurfacing a roadway involves several important steps designed to improve safety, protect taxpayer investment, and extend the life of the pavement.

Drainage Improvements Come First

Before resurfacing begins, County crews inspect drainage pipes and structures along the roadway. Older or damaged drainage components are replaced prior to being paved.

Completing this work in advance helps prevent the need to cut into newly paved roads later for drainage repairs, which would shorten the life of the pavement, increase costs and create noticeable issues with ride quality.

Shoulder Improvements and Roadway Widening

During the project planning phase, items such as traffic counts, crash data and speeds are analyzed prior to roads being resurfaced. This data is used to determine the need for roadway widening and other safety improvements.

As traffic volumes increase, improvements such as widening of lanes, paved shoulders, or a combination of both are often needed. To accomplish this, crews temporarily remove a portion of the shoulder material and place it along the edge of the roadway during construction.

While this may temporarily impact residents who maintain roadside ditches, the material will be reprocessed and placed back against the edge of the new pavement once paving is complete. This helps support the new pavement edge and prevents drop-offs between the roadway and the grass shoulder.

Paved shoulders improve safety by providing a smoother recovery area beside the travel lane. If a motorist drifts off the roadway, paved shoulders make it easier to safely return to the lane without sudden steering corrections that can lead to crashes.

Preparing the Road Surface

Before new asphalt is placed, crews may apply asphalt leveling to portions of the roadway. This step helps smooth uneven areas and ensures the road drains properly during rainfall.

After leveling is complete, a tack coat is applied. This thin layer of sticky asphalt helps bond the new asphalt to the existing roadway surface. Motorists are encouraged to pay close attention to the traffic control guidance provided by the work crew to avoid driving in the fresh tack coat as it can stick to vehicle tires and may require professional cleaning if tracked onto a vehicle.

Resurfacing the Roadway

Once the roadway has been properly prepared, crews place a new layer of asphalt across the travel lanes and widened shoulders. This new surface improves ride quality and extends the life of the roadway.

Temporary Striping During Curing

Immediately after paving, temporary striping is installed to guide motorists. Newly placed asphalt must be cured before permanent pavement markings can be applied. During this curing period, natural oils rise to the surface of the asphalt, which can prevent permanent striping materials from properly bonding.

Final Striping and Reflectors

After the asphalt has cured, typically after at least two weeks, permanent striping and pavement reflectors are installed. These markings provide long-term visibility and guidance motorists rely on when traveling the roadway.