Scheduling in the construction industry is a universal struggle—one made significantly harder when freezing temperatures and snowfall enter the forecast. In asphalt paving, cold temperatures create critical safety, equipment, and structural quality concerns when installing bituminous pavement.

Asphalt paving is typically one of the final stages of site work or restoration projects. When earlier stages experience delays, paving contractors often face short windows before the ground freezes.

Here is what property managers, general contractors, and site supervisors need to evaluate when considering late-season paving.

What Is the Timeline of the Project?

If you are wrapping up a minor asphalt repair or a quick overlay project, finishing before snow and ice hit may be completely feasible. However, if a larger commercial paving project is running late into autumn, installing a top wear layer in sub-freezing conditions risks long-term pavement integrity.

• The Base Layer Solution: It is often best to install only the base course layer before winter sets in.

• Phased Strategy: Completing the base layer stabilizes the site through the winter freeze-thaw cycle, allowing crews to return in the spring to install a smooth, durable wear course under optimal climate conditions.

• Expert Consultation: Rely on an experienced commercial paving contractor to evaluate site conditions and determine whether a two-phase approach makes sense.

Is It Safe for the Field Staff?

Installing asphalt in Minnesota requires adapting to extreme weather variations—from blistering summer heat to the sub-freezing winds of late October and November.

While paving during cold conditions is technically possible, crew safety is always the top priority. Cold temperatures reduce manual dexterity, increase trip hazards on slick surfaces, and raise frostbite risks during extended shifts. Paving in active snowfall or severe freezing weather exposes workers to unnecessary hazards, making it far safer to wait for temperate spring conditions.

Is It Safe to Run Equipment?

When temperatures dip below freezing, heavy machinery faces significant operational friction:

• Hydraulic and Fluid Line Risks: Sub-freezing air causes fluid viscosity issues, freezing moisture in air lines and bursting hydraulic hoses.

• Asphalt Plant Operations: Cold weather creates severe operational strain on asphalt manufacturing plants and burner systems, leading to delivery delays or mix temperature drops.

• Equipment Wear: Running pavers, rollers, and transport trucks in extreme cold accelerates mechanical wear and increases the likelihood of breakdowns mid-job.

Unless a project is a critical emergency repair, operating heavy paving equipment in below-freezing temperatures should be avoided.

How Does Cold Weather Impact Asphalt Quality?

Hot mix asphalt (HMA) must be placed and compacted while hot to achieve proper structural density. When hot asphalt is laid on a cold base, heat dissipates rapidly.

• Compaction & Density Issues: As the mix cools rapidly, it becomes stiff and unworkable, leaving little time for heavy rollers to achieve target compaction density. Inadequate density leads to high air void content, making the asphalt porous.

• Freeze-Thaw Vulnerability: Porous asphalt absorbs water, which expands during winter freeze-thaw cycles and causes premature cracking, raveling, and pothole formation by spring.

• Drainage & Aesthetics: Rapidly cooling mix restricts the crew’s ability to hand-work delicate seam transitions, adjust tight drainage slopes, or achieve a uniform, visually appealing surface finish.

Key Takeaways for Late-Season Paving

Because autumn weather in Minnesota is unpredictable, setting a fixed final day for paving is challenging. However, keeping these practical considerations in mind helps protect your asphalt investment:

1. Monitor Multi-Day Forecasts: If temperatures consistently remain below recommended paving thresholds, deferring final wear layers until spring produces a far better finished product.

2. Utilize Value Engineering: Work with your contractor to phase project schedules—paving base courses late in the year and wear courses in early warm months.

3. Plan Around Weather Delays: Build buffer time into general construction schedules to prevent last-minute paving scrambles.

Partner with Bituminous Roadways Today

With more than 75 years of experience paving Twin Cities roadways, parking lots, athletic surfaces, and pathways, Bituminous Roadways brings the technical expertise required to handle complex project timelines.

Whether you need a late-season pavement condition assessment, temporary patching, or a phased new construction plan, our team ensures high-quality results while keeping crews safe and equipment operating properly.

Contact Bituminous Roadways today at 651-686-7001 or request a free consultation online to discuss your project schedule with our paving experts.

That makes the fall season your most critical window for pavement preservation. At Bituminous Roadways Inc., we push for proactive asphalt maintenance to be completed in the fall prior to the freeze. Taking action before cold weather arrives protects your pavement subbase, prevents safety hazards, and saves you from costly structural repairs come spring.

Below, we break down the common types of asphalt damage to look for each autumn and five key pre-winter solutions to protect your property.

Common Types of Asphalt Damage to Spot in the Fall

Before the snow falls, inspect your commercial parking lot or roadway for these common warning signs:

• Alligator Cracking: Interconnected cracks resembling reptile skin, caused by repeated heavy traffic loads and subbase failure.

• Block Cracking: Large, rectangular interconnected cracks caused by binder shrinkage from age and temperature cycles.

• Linear Cracking: Single cracks running parallel or perpendicular to the pavement, often due to thermal expansion or joint stress.

• Potholes: Bowl-shaped holes formed when water weakens the base material, cracks expand, and traffic dislodges chunks of pavement.

• Rutting: Longitudinal depressions or grooves channeled in wheel paths from heavy vehicle compression.

• Upheaval: An upward swelling or buckling of pavement caused by frost heave or expanding subgrade soil.

5 Fall Maintenance Solutions to Prepare Your Pavement for Winter

1. Pre-Freeze Crack Sealing

Crack sealing is your first line of defense before winter arrives. Fall moisture from rain or early snow easily slips into unsealed cracks. When that trapped water freezes, it expands by approximately 9%, forcing the crack wider and rapidly breaking down the surrounding pavement. 

Applying hot-pour rubberized crack sealants in dry, mild fall conditions stops water intrusion before freeze-thaw cycles begin.

2. Hot-Mix Pothole Patching

If your property has existing potholes, they must be repaired in the late summer or fall while asphalt plants are still open and operating. Crews can excavate the damaged section, compact the underlying base, and install hot-mix asphalt. 

Addressing potholes before winter prevents snowplows from catching on loose edges and ripping up larger sections of pavement.

3. Surface Patching & Overlays for High-Wear Areas

For larger areas showing significant surface wear, applying an asphalt overlay or skin patch in the fall helps seal broad sections of distressed pavement. Completing this work while ambient temperatures are warm allows the fresh asphalt layer to properly compact and bond to the underlying pavement, sealing out winter moisture.

4. Drainage Checks & Catch Basin Maintenance

Standing water is one of asphalt's biggest enemies during a Minnesota winter. Before the ground freezes, inspect your property’s catch basins, storm drains, and slope gradients. Clearing debris and making structural masonry repairs to catch basins ensures snowmelt drains properly rather than pooling, freezing, and causing severe subbase erosion.

5. Pre-Winter Planning & Early Spring Scheduling

If your pavement requires extensive reconstruction that cannot be completed before winter weather settles in, fall is the ideal time to get a plan in place. By evaluating your pavement's condition before snow covers the ground, you can establish a scope of work and reserve a spot on the schedule early for spring asphalt repairs as soon as plants reopen.

Schedule Your Fall Asphalt Maintenance with Bituminous Roadways

For over 80 years, Bituminous Roadways has served Twin Cities businesses, municipalities, and facility managers with industry-leading asphalt solutions. From asphalt manufacturing to final installation, we manage our entire workflow in-house, ensuring top-quality results across Minnesota.

Don't wait for winter weather to compromise your parking lot or roadway! Get your property prepared before the freeze, or get a head start on your spring project schedule today. Call our office at 651-686-7001 or request a consultation online. 

There’s nothing like the clean look of a freshly paved parking lot. However, maintaining that pristine surface and protecting it from harsh Minnesota winters requires special care. While sealcoating is the undisputed standard for preserving asphalt, the industry is filled with persistent myths about what it actually does, when it should be applied, and who should apply it. 

At Bituminous Roadways, Inc, we’ve spent more than 80 years engineering and maintaining superior asphalt solutions across the Twin Cities. We know that separating fact from fiction is the first step to maximizing your property’s lifecycle. Below, our pavement preservation experts debunk the five most common sealcoating myths so you can make informed, cost-effective decisions for your property.

Myth: Sealcoating is Just for Aesthetics

Fact: Sealcoating acts as a vital protective barrier that prevents structural asphalt failure

While fresh sealcoating can improve your property’s curb appeal, its primary job is to provide protection. Sealcoating locks out water, motor oil, gasoline, and harsh UV rays. Without it, these elements quickly penetrate the porous asphalt, causing it to oxidize, turn brittle, and rapidly crumble into potholes. 

Myth: Sealcoating Completely Repairs Cracks and Damage

Fact: Sealcoating is a preventative surface treatment, not a structural repair

Sealcoat is a thin liquid membrane meant to seal the top layer of pavement. It lacks the structural integrity to bridge cracks or level out potholes. Existing cracks must be repaired and potholes patched before the sealcoat layer can be applied. 

Myth: Sealcoating Can Be Done Anytime, Regardless of Weather

Fact: Sealcoating needs a highly specific temperature and dry weather conditions to cure properly

Sealcoat is a water-based emulsion that relies on evaporation to harden. For a successful application, the ambient and pavement temperatures must consistently stay above 50 degrees F (and rising) for at least 24 to 48 hours. Applying it in temperatures that are too cold, during high humidity, or right before a rainstorm will cause the product to wash away or fail to bond to the pavement. 

Myth: Sealcoating Is a One-Time Solution

Fact: Sealcoating is an ongoing, cyclical maintenance practice

No sealcoat layer lasts forever under continuous tire friction, snowplow scraping, and weather extremes. To maximize the lifespan of a commercial parking lot or residential driveway, sealcoating should be reapplied every 2 to 3 years. 

Myth: DIY Sealcoating Is as Effective as Professional Application

Fact: Commercial-grade equipment and specialized material mixes outperform DIY retail alternatives

The thin buckets of sealcoat sold at local hardware stores are often heavily diluted or lack the necessary rubberized polymers required for long-term durability. Professional contractors use specialized spray rigs or dee-bed squeegees to achieve a uniform, commercial-grade thickness. In addition, pros have access to high-powered air brooms and wire wheels to remove hidden dirt, which is the number one step to prevent the sealer from peeling off later. 

Professionally Sealcoat Your Asphalt Surface with Bituminous Roadways

For over 80 years, Bituminous Roadways has provided superior asphalt pavement solutions in the Twin Cities area. We are proud to be part of several improvement projects throughout Minnesota, including the TCO Performance Center parking lot and the Woodbury resurfacing project. With professional sealcoating, your asphalt surface will gleam. 

Next Steps for Professional Sealcoating: 

• Request a consultation

• Contact our office at 651-686-7001

Quick Summary: Asphalt Mill & Overlay

• The Process: A specialized milling machine grinds off the damaged top layer of asphalt, which is replaced with a brand-new, smooth layer of hot-mix asphalt. 

• The Cost Benefit: It restores the structure integrity and appearance of your surface for a fraction of the cost of a full-depth replacement. 

• The Lifespan: A professionally installed overlay typically adds 10 to 15+ years of service life to an existing pavement structure. 

• The Eco Factor: Removed asphalt is completely recycled and repurposed into new mixes at local asphalt production plants. 

1. What is a Mill and Overlay? How Do Mill and Overlays Work?

A mill and overlay is a two-part pavement rehab process designed to correct surface defects in asphalt without disturbing the underlying aggregate base. 

• Step 1: Mechanical milling removes the top 1.5 to 2.5 inches of damaged asphalt. 

• Step 2: Prepping the surface involves sweeping away debris and applying a bonding tack coat. 

• Step 3: New asphalt is overlaid to create a fresh, smooth, and compact surface layer. 

2. How to Tell if My Twin Cities Surface Needs a Mill and Overlay vs. Total Reconstruction?

The determining factor of whether you can schedule a mill and overlay or if you need a total reconstruction comes down to the health of your subgrade base. 

• When to Mill and Overlay: If your asphalt exhibits widespread surface cracking, minor potholes, or a structurally raveled, textured surface, but the underlying stone foundation is firm and structurally sound, a mill and overlay is ideal. 

• When a Full Reconstruction is Needed: If your pavement has severe structural depressions, deep rutting, or extensive “alligator cracking” accompanied by shifting ground, it indicates subgrade failure. In these instances, capping the failure with a new layer will only cause the old defects to rapidly push to the surface. 

3. Can Milling Fix Standing Water or Drainage Issues?

Yes, to some extent. One of the greatest technical advantages of a mechanical mill and overlay is the ability to adjust the milling depth across different areas of the pavement. By altering the slope profile during the grinding phase, a skilled operator can smooth out the contours of your lot or surface. This allows the technician to re-establish proper grading, eliminate low spots where rainwater pools, and successfully direct storm runoff toward your catch basins and drainage systems. 

4. What Happens to Old Asphalt?

A mill and overlay is a sustainable option for repairing the surface of your parking lot or road. When Bituminous Roadways mills a road or parking lot, 100% of the scraped material–known as asphalt millings–is collected and hauled directly to one of our three strategically located Twin Cities asphalt plants. 

At our facilities, these millings are crushed, screened, and recycled back into eco-friendly asphalt mixtures. This value-engineering approach keeps tons of construction waste out of Minnesota landfills and lowers overall material costs for our clients. 

5. How Much Operational Downtime is Expected for a Mill and Overlay?

We understand that closing your commercial parking lot means disrupted business operations. Fortunately, a mill-and-overlay project is significantly faster than a total reconstruction. 

While a full tear-out can take weeks, a mill-and-overlay can often be completed in phases or in a single weekend. Vehicles can often drive on a milled surface temporarily if necessary, and a newly paved asphalt overlay can accept heavy traffic within just a few hours after final compaction. 

Consult Bituminous Roadways for Twin Cities Asphalt Projects

Weathered parking lots and roadway damage can affect your property’s curb appeal or invite liability claims. Instead, invest early in pavement maintenance with a trusted contractor like Bituminous Roadways. Our three local plants and over seven decades of experience make us the best choice for your Twin Cities mill and overlay project. 

Next Steps: 

• Schedule a free assessment online

• Contact us at our office at 651-686-7001 for more information

In 1979, WIRTGEN built its first cold milling machine designed to provide the asphalt paving industry with an innovative rehabilitation technique. 

Based on technology from the mining industry, these machines use dozens of carbide-tipped bits on a fast-rotating drum to remove a specified thickness from the surface of an asphalt pavement. At Bituminous Roadways Inc, we provide professional mill and overlay services to help correct your asphalt and prolong its lifespan. Let’s take a look at the benefits of a mill and overlay and some key signs that it’s time for an asphalt refresh. 

Quick Facts: Mill & Overlay Benefits

• Mill & Overlay has been a popular asphalt refresh since 1979. 

• 7 Benefits of Mill and Overlay include cost savings, refreshed surface, drainage corrections, and more. 

• Signs it’s time for a mill and overlay include fatigue cracking, block cracking, and drainage problems.

What Are the Key Benefits of Mill and Overlay?

With the invention of the milling machine, asphalt contractors can now remove and replace a portion of the asphalt pavement, which has several key benefits. 

Cost Savings

Asphalt pavements are typically 4 or more inches thick. During a mill and overlay, only the top 1.5 to 3 inches of the pavement are removed and replaced with new asphalt. This process is faster than a full reconstruction, reducing costs by saving time as well as materials. Mill and overlay typically costs about half as much as a full reconstruction and requires less materials.  

New Fresh Surface

While a mill and overlay is not the same as a brand new pavement, it certainly looks like it. Replacing the surface of the pavement revitalizes the curb appeal of your parking lot, providing a smooth, clean surface. If you ask us, there is nothing better than the look of fresh new pavement. 

Drainage Corrections

In some cases, exactly 2 inches of pavement will be removed by milling the surface, but most of the time our milling crew will be milling at variable depths in order to improve the drainage of the parking lot. Better drainage is the best way to fight one of asphalt’s natural enemies (“Water”).

Adds Strength 

Well-designed pavements with a strong aggregate base and adequate thickness to support the traffic loadings will deteriorate from the surface down. Therefore, mill and overlays are an important part of the pavement lifecycle as they remove the deteriorated surface and replace it with fresh new asphalt.

Maintains Grade and Elevation

By removing the old layer before adding a new one, mill and overlay preserves proper curb heights and sidewalk transitions. These are essential for safety and local regulations and preserving the heights with a mill and overlay keeps your surface in compliance. 

Protects the Subgrade

The subgrade is an essential part of your surface, and mill and overlay can help preserve it. Since the procedure removes deteriorated surface material and replaces it with new asphalt, the underlayers are protected and last longer. 

Minimal Disruption

Building an entire new parking lot or other surface can take a while, particularly if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Milling is significantly faster than a full tear-out and reconstruction, allowing roadways and parking lots to be opened again much faster. 

Project Excellence: Mill & Overlay

BR has completed several exciting mill and overlay projects. Here are just a few. 

Hennepin County Mill and Overlay

During 2020, BR was busy. We were awarded the 2020 Hennepin County Mill and Overlay project. Spanning 13 counties, we provided roadway improvements of city streets. This project covered 68 lane miles and required expert coordination between the different counties. We successfully completed this project after several months of intense work, but the results are beautiful. 

City of Richfield Mill and Overlay

Beginning in 2017, BR worked with the City of Richfield Public Works Department on three pavement projects. All three included a mill and overlay of existing streets. In addition to the mill and overlay, BR removed deteriorated sidewalks and pavement and replaced it with brand new materials. We worked hard to reduce the impact to the local community, and because of this, we received glowing praise from the City of Richfield residents. 

Contact BR

For more than 70 years, Bituminous Roadways has been the asphalt maintenance contractor of choice in the Twin Cities metro area. We can perform asphalt maintenance from cracksealing and patching to milling and overlays, and complete reconstruction. 

Next Steps: 

• Call us at 651-686-7001 for more information

• Request for Consultation for a free estimate.

Bituminous Roadways provides professional mill-and-overlay services in the Twin Cities to refresh your pavement efficiently and affordably.

If you’re unsure when to schedule maintenance for your asphalt surface, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on the signs that it’s time for an asphalt refresh.

What Is a Mill & Overlay?

A mill and overlay is a highly cost-effective asphalt maintenance process designed to refresh aging pavement that is still structurally sound.

Using a specialized milling machine, paving crews remove the top layer of existing pavement, typically 1.5 to 4 inches deep. Once the old, damaged surface layer is ground away, the milled area is overlaid with a brand-new layer of hot-mix asphalt. 

This process saves thousands of dollars in total reconstruction costs while restoring the beauty, durability, and safety of your surface.

4 Signs Your Pavement Needs a Mill & Overlay

Look for these four key indicators that your parking lot or roadway is a prime candidate for a mill and overlay.

1. Minimal Fatigue Cracking 

If the surface of your pavement is beginning to look like “alligator skin,” it is experiencing fatigue cracking. This is a sign of structural distress, often caused by overloading thin pavements with heavy vehicles or a weakened aggregate base. 

While a mill and overlay only replaces the surface layer and cannot fix deep foundational failures, performing this service when fatigue cracking is still minimal can seal the surface and prevent your pavement from deteriorating further into a costly base failure.

2. Block Cracking 

Block cracking appears as an interconnection of square-like patterned cracks across the pavement. These cracks develop naturally as asphalt ages and dries out. 

When widespread block cracking occurs alongside minimal fatigue cracking, it is a strong indication that the underlying base is structurally sound, making it the perfect time for a surface-level mill-and-overlay.

3. Surface Deterioration (Raveling) 

Surface deterioration, commonly known as raveling, is the progressive, slow loss of asphalt material from the pavement surface. As the petroleum-based binder wears away, it leaves behind exposed rocks and gives the pavement a very coarse, rough appearance. 

Raveling typically occurs across the entire pavement surface and is a clear indicator of the pavement's advanced age. A mill and overlay seamlessly grinds away this raveled surface and replace it with a smooth, tightly bound layer of new asphalt.

4. Drainage Issues 

Pavements with poor drainage will have noticeable areas where water pools or "ponds" after a rainstorm. You may notice flat areas with multiple smaller puddles, or a large depressed area where water collects because it cannot reach a catch basin.

By milling the surface at a precise angle, contractors can correct these sloped dips in the pavement, drastically improving water runoff and eliminating hazardous drainage issues.

Key Benefits of a Mill & Overlay

Ever since the milling machine was invented in 1979, the mill-and-overlay method has been a perfect solution for refreshing asphalt. 

Some of the key benefits of mill and overlay include:

• Cost Savings: Because the foundational base is left intact, the process takes significantly less time and uses fewer materials than a full reconstruction, making it a highly cost-effective solution.

• A New, Fresh Surface: Your drivers, tenants, and customers will immediately benefit from a smooth, newly paved surface for driving and parking.

• Drainage Corrections: Strategic milling can easily correct surface dips, eliminating pooling water and drainage problems.

• Added Strength: By removing the old, deteriorated, and brittle surface, the rest of your parking lot or road is protected from the elements, ensuring it lasts longer and is more durable.

BR Project Profiles: Expert Mill & Overlay Services

Throughout our more than 80-year history, Bituminous Roadways has transformed countless aging Minnesota roads and lots through the mill-and-overlay process. 

Two standout municipal projects:

• Hennepin County (2020): Bituminous Roadways was awarded a massive project spanning 13 different cities within Hennepin County. Throughout the process, our crews successfully overlaid 68 miles of roadway, executing 434,498 square yards of milling and placing 59,000 tons of hot-mix asphalt.

• City of Richfield Public Works Department (2017-2018) BR worked with the City of Richfield Public Works Department on three large paving projects. In 2017, we milled 308,000 square yards of roadways and placed 44,000 tons of asphalt. The following year, we milled another 265,000 square yards and placed 36,000 tons of asphalt, further securing BR as a go-to contractor for major asphalt refreshes.

Ready to Protect Your Asphalt Investment?

For more than 75 years, Bituminous Roadways, Inc. has provided the Twin Cities with expert paving solutions. Our professional pavement engineers are ready to assess your specific asphalt needs and help maximize your pavement's lifecycle.

Contact BR at 651-686-7001 to schedule a free pavement assessment or complete our online Request a Consultation form today!

Winter is a uniquely challenging time for asphalt pavement in Minnesota. While asphalt is flexible and stretchy during the warm spring, summer, and fall seasons, plummeting winter temperatures cause the pavement to become harder, stronger, but significantly more brittle.

However, the extreme cold itself isn't the biggest winter threat to your parking lots and roadways — the most severe seasonal asphalt damage is caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.

What Is a Freeze-Thaw Cycle?

A freeze-thaw cycle occurs when the ambient temperature fluctuates from above freezing (32°F) to below freezing, and then back above freezing again. 

In Minnesota, properties experience dozens of these cycles each winter, especially during transitional months when daytime snowmelt is followed by sub-zero nighttime temperatures.

How Freeze-Thaw Cycles Destroy Asphalt Surfaces

To understand why freeze-thaw cycles are so destructive, you have to look at how water behaves. 

When temperatures rise above freezing, highly mobile rainwater or snowmelt finds its way into microscopic hairline cracks in the pavement. When temperatures inevitably drop back below freezing, the trapped water turns to ice. 

Water expands by approximately 10% when frozen, exerting upwards of 25,000 psi of pressure against the surrounding asphalt. This acts like a hydraulic wedge, forcing the pavement apart from the inside out. 

When the ice melts again, the water flows deeper into the newly widened crack, restarting the destructive cycle.

Major Pavement Damage Caused by Freeze-Thaw

The freeze-thaw process in Minnesota often leads to significant asphalt pavement damage:

• Frost Heave: Water freezing in the base and subgrade layers forms large chunks called “ice lenses." The immense pressure of these ice lenses pushes asphalt pavement upward, physically deforming the surface.

• Potholes: As the weather warms and the ice lenses melt, they leave behind large, empty voids in the weakened base layer. When heavy vehicles drive over these unsupported voids, the asphalt may collapse, quickly forming a pothole.

• Alligator Cracking: Rapid snowmelt can saturate the gravel base under your asphalt, turning the ground mushy. As vehicles drive over the unsupported, flexible asphalt, it snaps into interconnecting patterns that resemble reptilian scales. Alligator cracking cannot be fixed with a simple crack filler; it requires a full-depth patch to restore the foundational base.

• Contraction & Shrinkage: The bitter cold makes asphalt brittle, causing the pavement to physically shrink and pull apart under the added stress.

3 Ways to Protect Asphalt Pavement From Freeze-Thaw Damage

The best way to stop the freeze-thaw cycle is to prevent water from penetrating your asphalt in the first place.

1. Proactive Cracksealing: Having a professional contractor crackseal your pavement every 1 to 3 years is the most effective way to keep surface water from reaching the vulnerable base layers.

2. Thoughtful Drainage Design: Properly sloped pavement and underlying drainage tile piping quickly direct water off the surface and away from the subgrade, eliminating the moisture needed for frost heave.

3. Mill + Overlay: If freeze-thaw cycles have already caused widespread surface damage, a mill and overlay is an excellent rehabilitation option to restore the pavement's integrity.

Planning Your Spring Asphalt Repairs in Minnesota

• Please note: Bituminous Roadways cannot operate or produce new asphalt during the winter. 

Local asphalt plants do not open until the Spring, and Minnesota enforces seasonal road weight restrictions that prevent heavy commercial paving trucks from driving on the roads. Therefore, the best course of action during the winter is to document the areas of your property that are holding water, heaving, or cracking. 

By noting these high-risk zones now, you can schedule a consultation with our Minnesota asphalt pros, so we can repair your lot first thing in the Spring once restrictions are lifted.

Monitoring Winter Asphalt Damage: Related Reading

If you want to protect your retail business, medical center, or apartment complex, it is critical to keep an eye on your pavement throughout the winter. When you spot a sign of damage, schedule asphalt repair in the spring as soon as possible.

Check for Standing Water

As detailed in a recent blog, Winter Damage Check: Asphalt vs. Rain, Snowmelt, & Standing Water, keeping an eye out for puddles that sit for more than 24 hours can help you identify areas with base failures or poor drainage before they expand into major springtime hazards.

Understand Winter's Impact

To learn more about how cold weather stresses your pavement and why high-quality asphalt installation matters, read What Winter Does to Your Asphalt & How Good Paving Decisions Pay Off in Spring.

Frequently Asked Questions: Winter Asphalt Damage

Don’t fall for any asphalt misconceptions! Reach out to our local experts for transparent answers to common questions about maintaining asphalt surfaces in Minnesota.

How can I prepare my asphalt surface for winter? 

The best time to prepare asphalt for winter is in the fall. You should fill large cracks, repair existing potholes, and ensure the edges of your asphalt are intact. 

Additionally, designate snow storage areas that are off the asphalt and at lower elevations so melting snow doesn't constantly run across your pavement.

Can asphalt withstand harsh weather conditions? 

Yes, when properly maintained and prepared for winter, asphalt handles harsh weather and freeze-thaw cycles better than rigid surface materials like concrete. Its inherent flexibility allows it to shift with the temperature-induced expansions and contractions, reducing the severity of cracking and heaving.

When should I resurface my asphalt surface? 

You should consider asphalt resurfacing (such as a mill and overlay) if your asphalt shows widespread signs of raveling, fading, massive interconnecting cracks, structural potholes, or significant standing water.

Contact Bituminous Roadways for Asphalt Services in the Twin Cities

With more than 80 years of experience, Bituminous Roadways, Inc. is the Twin Cities’ most trusted asphalt pavement contractor. Call us today at 651-686-7001 to request a free consultation and get your spring pavement projects on the schedule!