How long do newly repaved roads last? The answer may surprise you
According to engineering experts, the lifespan of a road depends on several factors — and some of them are especially tough on pavement in this region.
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Drivers across Long Island know the feeling of cruising along a freshly repaved road. The ride is smooth, quiet and noticeably better than the bumpy pavement it replaced. But sometimes, those improvements do not last as long as people expect.
Before long, cracks can begin to appear. Eventually, potholes may follow.
“It’s very bumpy at the moment,” Huntington resident Wayne Tuner said. “A lot of the road looks like it needs to be fixed.”
According to engineering experts, the lifespan of a road depends on several factors — and some of them are especially tough on pavement in this region.
Michael Shenoda, an engineering professor at Farmingdale State College, says winter weather is one of the biggest influences on how long asphalt pavement lasts.
“Winter is normally the season that’s going to influence how long it will last,” Shenoda explained.
Heavy traffic and severe weather can speed up the deterioration process. Long Island roads face constant vehicle use, and winter brings freezing temperatures, snow, and moisture that can seep into pavement.
Under ideal conditions, a newly paved asphalt road can last 10 to 15 years. But in places where water infiltration, flooding, and harsh winters are common, deterioration can happen much sooner.
“If you’re talking about an asphalt pavement in an area susceptible to flooding and water infiltration and you have severe winters, then you’re going to degrade a little faster,” Shenoda said. “Within the first five years or so, you might see some degradation.”
While weather and traffic cannot be controlled, there are ways to help roads last longer.
Regular maintenance is key, particularly sealing cracks and preventing water from entering the pavement. The way a road is designed and built also plays a significant role.
“If you’ve compacted the pavement well and done a good job constructing it, it will last longer,” Shenoda said.
For now, crews are patching potholes across parts of Long Island. Full-scale repaving projects typically begin later in the spring.
Roadwork usually ramps up in April or May, once temperatures are consistently warm enough for asphalt paving.
