North Carolina Bitumen Calculator

NCDOT uses Superpave mix design with their own designation system. Common surface mixes are S9.5B (9.5 mm nominal max aggregate, standard traffic) and S9.5C (high-traffic). I19 and I25 are intermediate layer mixes, and B25.0 and B37.5 are base course mixes. The letter suffix (B, C, D) indicates the design traffic level based on ESALs over the design life.

North Carolina asphalt material prices typically range from $85–$165 per ton. Charlotte metro and Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) areas are at the mid-to-high end, while rural western NC mountain areas may run higher due to longer haul distances. Residential driveway paving in NC costs approximately $3–$6 per square foot installed. NCDOT publishes bid results that reflect current market pricing.

NCDOT has approved Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) technologies including foamed asphalt, chemical additives (Sasobit, Evotherm), and water-injection systems. WMA is produced at 250–275°F compared to 300–320°F for traditional hot mix, reducing energy consumption, emissions, and binder aging. NCDOT permits WMA use on projects where extended haul distances or nighttime paving conditions make lower mix temperatures advantageous.

Both are NCDOT Superpave surface mixes with a 9.5 mm nominal maximum aggregate size, but the letter suffix indicates the design traffic level. S9.5B is designed for standard traffic (1–10 million ESALs over the design life) and uses a standard PG 64-22 binder — appropriate for residential streets, secondary routes, parking lots, and collector roads. S9.5C is designed for high-traffic roads (10–30 million ESALs) such as primary US routes, urban arterials, and interstates — it requires a stiffer binder (PG 70-22 or polymer-modified PG 64-22) for improved rutting resistance under heavy truck loads and NC's hot summer temperatures. Using S9.5B on a high-traffic route will result in premature rutting. Always confirm the required mix type from the NCDOT plans or a licensed pavement engineer for your specific project.

A typical North Carolina residential driveway (40 ft × 12 ft = 480 sq ft) with a standard 2-inch S9.5B surface: 480 × (2/12) × 110 ÷ 2,000 = 4.4 short tons. With 5% waste = order approximately 4.6 tons. NC's milder climate means thinner pavement sections are acceptable compared to northern states — a 2-inch surface over a 4-inch NCDOT ABC (Aggregate Base Course) stone base is standard for most residential driveways. For a wider driveway (14 ft × 60 ft = 840 sq ft at 2 inches) = approximately 7.7 tons. Use the Square Feet Calculator to quickly estimate from area dimensions.

North Carolina's climate ranges from the warm coastal Outer Banks to the cool Blue Ridge Mountains, so NCDOT selects binder grades by region. Coastal Plain (Wilmington, New Bern, Outer Banks) — hot summers and mild winters require PG 70-22 on high-traffic routes and PG 64-22 on secondary roads. Piedmont (Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro) — the most populous region uses PG 64-22 as standard, with PG 70-22 on interstates and heavily trafficked urban corridors. Mountain (Asheville, Boone, Murphy) — cooler temperatures allow PG 64-22 statewide, with PG 58-28 at higher elevations (>4,000 ft) in the western-most counties. NCDOT's binder grade map and specification guidance should always be consulted for project-specific selection.

Yes — North Carolina's hot, humid summers (peak pavement temperatures can exceed 140°F in the Piedmont and coastal regions) create real rutting risk on high-traffic roads using standard PG 64-22 mixes. NCDOT addresses this by: (1) mandating PG 70-22 (polymer-modified) on interstates and primary routes in the Piedmont and coastal plain; (2) requiring S9.5C or S12.5C mix design (stiffer, higher gyration count) on heavily trafficked routes; (3) using SMA at some high-stress locations (steep grades, bus stops, intersection approaches) where channelized truck traffic causes severe rutting. Homeowners and commercial property managers should specify S9.5C or a PG 70-22 binder mix for driveways with heavy truck deliveries or bus routes, even though it costs 10–20% more than standard S9.5B.