What is HMA?
Driveways
Smooth
Quiet
Low life-cycle costs
Quick construction
Perpetual pavement

 

 

ASPHALT BENEFITS

Hot mix asphalt is a high-quality and carefully engineered paving material. The benefits of asphalt range from its high performance to its environmental friendliness and sustainability to its low cost. Learn the basics of asphalt and the many benefits it offers.

What is Hot Mix Asphalt?

1Hot mix asphalt is a paving material made of two basic components: aggregates (stone, gravel and sand) and liquid asphalt (the petroleum-based binder or “glue”). These are mixed at high temperatures to make the paving materials used to build Wisconsin’s roadways. Learn more about the components of HMA and how it is made at What is Hot Mix Asphalt?


Consumer Information

WAPA has compiled advice for homeowners interested in enjoying the benefits of an asphalt driveway in its Driveway Guidelines [PDF]. Homeowners are urged to select a laydown contractor from among WAPA Members for their residential paving needs.

“Nomad pavers” are the bane of the HMA industry. Out-of-state contractors migrate through the area during the summer and provide low-quality product without any project follow-through. They may offer unbeatable deals (“I have some extra mix and can pave your driveway at a discount…”), but buyer beware!  These contractors are not Wisconsin-based companies and are obviously not WAPA members. WAPA recommends using WAPA members and checking the reputation of any company you use. After you have paid your “nomad paver,” WAPA has no means to help you if problems arise. Please check out your contractor with the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau.

Environmental Benefits

ForestAsphalt will be part of a green tomorrow. Learn about the environmental and sustainability aspects of asphalt, and what WAPA is doing to promote environmental stewardship on our Asphalt & the Environment page.

Performance Benefits

Asphalt is the high-performing pavement. It is the Smooth Pavement [PDF] that not only promotes fuel economy, but results in safer roads as well. Asphalt is also the Quiet Pavement [PDF], which means less noise pollution.

Cost Benefits

Looking at the costs both to build and maintain pavements, the
Low Life-Cycle Costs [PDF] of asphalt pavements show that they are the clear choice. Add to that the time savings — both to the public and to affected businesses — of the
Speed of Construction [PDF] of asphalt pavements and the decision is even easier. Current generation pavements promise even cost benefits in the years ahead:
A Perpetual Pavement [PDF] is an asphalt pavement designed to last for half a century or more with only surface reconditioning.

 

 

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