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Paving Program

Keeping Philadelphia roadways safe and smooth whether you walk, bike, drive, or take transit.

About

Whether you're walking, biking, driving, or riding transit, street resurfacing makes roadways safer for everyone. The Paving Program is one of the City's core services and is managed by the Streets Department of Transportation (StreetsDOT.)

Weather permitting, resurfacing takes place every week from early spring to late fall. Street resurfacing work happens in four phases:

  • Milling.
  • Utility adjustments.
  • Paving.
  • Line striping.

This work may be completed by a combination of StreetsDOT crews, City contractors, or by partner agencies, like PennDOT.

Connect

Phone
Phone: 311 (within Philadelphia)
(215) 686-8686 (outside Philadelphia)
Social

Paving process

Street resurfacing work occurs in four phases. Each phase involves specialized work, crews, vehicles, and equipment. Each phase will be completed on separate days within an eight week period.

1
Milling

Grinding off the top asphalt surface of a roadway. This work requires large trucks, specialized machinery, and access to the full width of the roadway. On-street parking is prohibited during this work.

2
Utility adjustments

Additional preparation work around manhole covers, castings, and any other utility access points in the roadway. Simple adjustments are typically completed in a few hours. Complex adjustments may take more time. Most utility adjustments do not require parking restrictions.

3
Paving

A new layer of asphalt is laid on top of the milled roadway.

  1. To help the new asphalt layer stick, a tack coat (or tar-like layer) is applied to the milled surface.
  2. A new layer of asphalt is laid down using a paving machine.
  3. Roller machines smooth and compact the asphalt.
  4. Joints and curb lines are sealed with liquid asphalt.
4
Line striping

Painted road surface markings, like crosswalks, stop bars, and center lines guide people walking, biking, and driving. Most line striping work does not require parking restrictions.

Other road work

Transportation projects

Street resurfacing may be part of a larger improvement project. Find out more about Transportation Projects across Philadelphia.

Utility projects

Street resurfacing work may be related to utility work or other permitted road work. Go to StreetSmartPHL and select the PermitPHL tab to find City-permitted road work and closures.

State projects

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) manages street resurfacing work on state-owned roadways. Find out more about PennDOT work happening in Philadelphia.


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