Asphalt Paving in Livermore, CA

Asphalt paving in Livermore runs on different ground from the bayside cities. The Livermore Valley is about 15 miles long and 10 wide, and its soil is described as very gravelly coarse sandy loam, the same well-drained ground that suits the vineyards on the south side of town. Gravelly soil drains far better than bay clay, which helps a pavement base. The challenges here are heat, long driveways and heavy vehicles.

Heat and cold in one valley

Livermore's 1991 to 2020 normals put the July high at about 89 degrees and the record at 116, while December and January lows average about 39 degrees. That swing ages asphalt: summer sun oxidizes the surface, and cold winter nights make it stiffer and more prone to cracking. Sealcoating and crack sealing on a regular cycle offset both.

Long driveways and rural roads

Larger parcels on the edges of town and in wine country often have long gravel driveways or private roads. Converting them to asphalt usually means grading and compacting the existing rock, adding base where it is thin, and paving a width and thickness that suits the traffic: farm trucks, delivery vans and visitors need more than a commuter car. We quote base and asphalt thickness for each section.

A city that grew in the 1950s and 1960s

Livermore had 4,364 residents in 1950 and 37,703 by 1970, and the 2020 census counted 87,955. Neighborhoods from that boom now have driveways at the end of their life, and 70.7 percent of homes are owner-occupied, so replacement is a common job.

Commercial and industrial

Businesses along I-580 and near the municipal airport have lots and yards that carry trucks. We pave, repair and restripe them, phased to keep the business running.

Building for trucks

Winery, ranch and small industrial roads carry delivery trucks, tractors and trailers. Cost guides put asphalt for heavier vehicles at 3 to 4 inches over an 8 to 10 inch base. We set the section by what the road actually carries, and widen turns so trucks do not break the edges.

Cool nights and cracking

Winter lows near 39 degrees stiffen asphalt and open cracks wider than they are in summer. Crack sealing in fall, when cracks have started to open but the weather is still dry, catches them at the right size.

Cost factors

Long driveways cost more in total but often less per square foot than small ones, because setup and trucking are spread over a larger area. Grading existing gravel into the base can also cut cost. HomeGuide puts recycled asphalt at about $4 to $9 per square foot, an option some owners use on long rural driveways.

Next step

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