Why Are Roads Made Of Asphalt? - Britannica

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Why Are Roads Made of Asphalt? Asphalt is cheap, quick, and easy. Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/story/why-are-roads-made-of-asphalt Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

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When you think of a long stretch of road, you probably imagine a black thoroughfare fading into the distance. Asphalt is a ubiquitous material for road construction, and that’s because it is usually the most economical option. Not only is asphalt generally cheaper than concrete, but asphalt roadways can be finished and opened for traffic more quickly than roads paved with other materials. Although asphalt is relatively soft and deteriorates more quickly than concrete, its maintenance and repair is easier and less costly than upkeep of concrete pavement.

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There are a number of other benefits to asphalt as well. Asphalt (like concrete) is recyclable and can be reused as road pavement. It is quieter to drive on than concrete, which you may have noticed when an asphalt highway gives way to a concrete overpass. What’s more, compared with concrete, asphalt provides better traction, and its heat-absorbing blackness helps snow and ice to melt on it and rainwater to evaporate from it more quickly, which means that asphalt offers safety perks as well as economic advantages.

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