Why asphalt viscosity matters more than you think

If you've actually watched a street crew laying lower a fresh coating of blacktop, you've seen asphalt viscosity in action, even if you didn't recognize it at the particular time. It's that will thick, gooey consistency that determines whether a road will be a smooth trip for your next decade or even a crumbling clutter of potholes by next spring. Many people consider asphalt as just "stuff for roads, " but the science behind how it flows—or doesn't flow—is actually what retains our infrastructure through falling apart as soon as a heavy vehicle drives over this. ...

March 19, 2026 · 7 min · Barbé Lindsey