Asphalt Paving in Corcoran, CA

Asphalt paving in Corcoran faces conditions that few other towns deal with. The ground here is sinking. Groundwater pumping for agriculture has caused up to 11.5 feet of subsidence over a recent 14-year period, and the city sits in a basin that has flooded in notable years, including 1983 and 2023. The soils are mostly poorly drained loam or fine sandy loam, often salty, of the Lakeside series. All of that affects how pavement should be built.

Building on poorly drained soil

Soil that drains poorly stays wet after storms and loses strength. Pavement on wet soil flexes, cracks and potholes. In Corcoran we pay extra attention to the base: removing soft soil, using a thicker layer of crushed rock where needed, and grading so water leaves the pavement quickly.

Subsidence and cracks

Gradual ground sinking does not usually crack a driveway by itself, but uneven settling over large areas can change how water drains, leaving low spots where it once ran off. When we repave or repair, we re-check the grade rather than following the old one.

Farm and ag yards

J. G. Boswell Company, founded in 1921, is still a major employer, and agriculture drives the economy. Ag yards, shops and equipment areas need heavy pavement and solid drainage. We build sections to match the loads.

Homes and businesses

Corcoran had 22,339 residents in 2020. Many homes have older driveways that need replacement or repair, and downtown and highway businesses need lot maintenance and striping. We provide written estimates for both.

What Corcoran properties usually need

• Thicker rock bases on poorly drained soil
• Regrading where settling has created low spots
• Heavy-duty paving for ag yards and shops
• Driveway replacements and repairs in older neighborhoods
• Lot maintenance and striping for downtown and highway businesses

Planning around wet winters

Poorly drained soils are at their weakest in winter. Where we can, we schedule replacements and base work for spring through fall, when the subgrade is dry and firm. Crack filling before the rainy season keeps water out of the base. In flood years like 2023, we wait until the ground has dried before rebuilding.

Why the base matters more here

On well-drained ground, a standard rock base does the job. On Corcoran's lake-basin soils, the base has to bridge soil that may be soft for weeks after a storm. That can mean a deeper base, a geotextile fabric between soil and rock, or both. We explain the choice in the quote.

Ag yards on soft ground

Ag yards in and around Corcoran combine the two hardest conditions for pavement: heavy loads and weak, wet soil. For those, we often recommend a thicker base, a heavier asphalt section, and concrete where trucks stand. We also make sure the yard drains toward a ditch or retention area, because water that stands on the pavement will find its way into the soil below.

Call (559) 257-2245 for a free Corcoran estimate, or

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