Asphalt Paving Contractor in Bethlehem, PA

What Bethlehem's Ground and Winters Do to Asphalt

Duffield soil drains well, but the limestone under it brings a different risk. Pennsylvania's geological survey says karst, the kind of ground where sinkholes form, is common over limestone. It says water can flush underground drains open and create a sinkhole. So a new driveway or lot here needs a plan for where its runoff goes.

Winter adds its own wear. Frost boils are soft, broken spots that form when frozen ground thaws under pavement. The city's snow FAQ also says plows push snow into driveways, and that it cannot be helped. A broken edge or pothole at the end of the drive is a job for asphalt patching before it grows.

Paving Around Bethlehem's Older Homes

Census Bureau survey figures show about 31 percent of Bethlehem's homes went up before 1940. More than half were built before 1960, and about 8 percent date from 2000 or later. Nearly 28 percent are attached single-family homes, such as twins and row houses. Parts of the South Side sit on 8 to 25 percent slopes, per the same soil maps.

An older driveway may sit on a base that has settled or broken up. If the base is still sound, asphalt resurfacing can put a new layer on top. If it has failed, the old asphalt comes out and the base gets rebuilt first. We check which one your driveway needs before we write the quote.

Do You Need a City Permit for Driveway Work in Bethlehem?

The city's Code Enforcement FAQ lists driveways and sidewalks among work that needs a building permit. Work in the public right-of-way, such as a new curb cut or apron, also goes through the Bureau of Engineering. That bureau's permit form bars digging up a street or right-of-way from December 1 to March 1, except urgent repairs. The city answers the permit question for your address, and we plan the job around it.

The city also reviews visible exterior work in three historic districts. The Historic Architectural Review Board, or HARB, covers the Bethlehem Historic District north of the Lehigh River. The Historic Conservation Commission covers South Bethlehem and the Mount Airy district in West Bethlehem. In these districts, changes visible from a street or alley can need a Certificate of Appropriateness.

The HARB design guidelines list paving as a site feature the board reviews. They favor narrow parking strips over full-width driveways and discourage front-yard parking areas. They also discourage asphalt on walkways, so plan any walkway installation there with that review in mind. The city's Planning and Zoning bureau can tell you what your block needs.

Bethlehem's Stormwater Fee and Your Parking Lot

Bethlehem's stormwater fee took effect on January 1, 2021. The city's stormwater FAQ says every property with at least 500 square feet of hard surface pays it. It counts driveways, patios, sidewalks and crushed stone parking lots as hard surface.

Per the FAQ, commercial properties and apartment buildings pay per 2,100 square feet of hard surface on the parcel. A crushed stone lot already counts under the city's rules. Before parking lot paving on a business property, ask the city's stormwater staff how the plan changes your billing.

Runoff from Bethlehem reaches the Lehigh River, directly or through creeks such as Monocacy Creek and Saucon Creek. The city requires new development and redevelopment to control their runoff. On a larger lot, the city's review can shape the drainage plan before any asphalt goes down.