Asphalt Paving in Oshkosh, WI

Asphalt paving in Oshkosh deals with a city whose layout was set more than a century ago. Oshkosh incorporated in 1853 and boomed on lumber, with 47 sawmills and 15 shingle mills by 1874. The Great Fire of April 28, 1875 destroyed about 500 homes, 70 stores and 40 factories, and much of the older city was rebuilt in the years after. Population climbed from 41,084 in 1950 to 66,816 in 2020. That history leaves Oshkosh with narrow drives to detached garages near downtown, postwar ranches with wider driveways farther out, and subdivisions from recent decades on the edges.

Older neighborhoods

On the north and south sides near the river, many homes have a single-lane drive running beside the house to a garage at the back of the lot. These drives catch roof runoff, sit close to foundations and have often been patched for decades. Replacement means planning around tight access, sloping the surface away from the house, and sometimes widening a pinch point if the lot allows.

Clay underneath

Wisconsin's geological survey describes red, clay-rich lake sediment and clay-rich till across much of Winnebago County, ground that is relatively impermeable to stormwater. On many Oshkosh lots that means water lingers in the top layers of soil after rain and snowmelt. We dig out soft clay where the pavement has failed and replace it with compacted stone so the new blacktop has something firm to sit on.

The right-of-way and the city

The apron and sidewalk between your property line and the street belong to the city. Oshkosh issues right-of-way permits, licenses contractors who excavate there, and requires an obstruction license for dumpsters in the street. In February 2024 the Common Council voted to end special assessments for road and sidewalk reconstruction, funding that work with a $35 vehicle registration fee and utility contributions instead. Upcoming projects include the Bowen Street reconstruction in 2027 and Jackson and Oregon streets in 2029. If your street is on the list, it can make sense to time driveway work around it.

Winter numbers

Oshkosh averages about 39 inches of snow a year, the January average low is about 10 degrees, and the record low is minus 34. That is a lot of freeze-thaw for pavement on clay. Filling cracks in the fall and making sure water leaves the driveway are the cheapest ways to reduce spring damage.

UW-Oshkosh, AirVenture and business lots

UW-Oshkosh, with about 15,000 students, and Oshkosh Corporation's headquarters anchor plenty of commercial pavement, and EAA AirVenture brings more than 600,000 visitors and 10,000 airplanes to Wittman Regional Airport every summer. Apartment complexes, churches, offices and lots near the airport need work scheduled around semesters and event week. We phase patching, sealing, paving and striping to keep them open.

Ranches and newer homes

Postwar and later homes farther from downtown usually have wider, attached-garage driveways. At this age many have been sealed and patched for years and are now due for either an overlay, if the base is firm, or full replacement if it has broken down. We probe the base at the site visit and price the options side by side.

Free site visits

We look at the driveway or lot with you, check drainage and the base, and send a written quote. Call (920) 310-3634 or

Get a Free Estimate

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