What is an Hot Asphalt Overlay?
Overlaying a street involves applying a new layer of not-mix asphalt onto the top of the existing street surface. In order to to this, the street may be closed one lane at a time or entirely depending on traffic and other factors. The first step of the process is to “edge-mill” the existing asphalt one inch down along the gutters to allow a smooth transition of the new surface. Overlays are selected for streets which need additional pavement strength because traffic loading has changed. The cost of an overlay is considered intermediate (approximately $3.50 to $5/sq yd) between a chip seal and total reconstruction. Overlays are not possible where the crown (cross-slope) of the road is too great. In these cases, a special process is used which recycles and rejuvenates the surface of the existing pavement with only minor additions to the pavement section.
