An old mill town on I-85, 19 miles north of Athens

Asphalt Paving in Commerce, GA

Older mill-era homes and new growth near the interstate.

Free on-site estimates
Itemized written quote: base depth and asphalt thickness spelled out
Permit questions for county roads and state routes sorted out before work is scheduled

Paving in a Railroad and Mill Town

Asphalt paving in Commerce covers both a historic town center and a fast-changing edge. Commerce began as the trading post of Harmony Grove, was incorporated under that name in 1884 and was renamed Commerce in 1904. The railroad from Athens to Lula opened in 1876, and Harmony Grove Mills ran cotton textiles from 1893 until 2004. Today the city counts 7,387 residents and 3,002 housing units, with I-85 running through its north side and US 441 along its eastern edge.

Older homes near the center

Mill-era and early twentieth-century homes near downtown often have short, narrow driveways that were paved, patched and repaved over many decades. Built-up layers can leave the driveway higher than the garage floor or the yard. When we replace these driveways, we take out the old layers, reset the grade so water flows away from the house, and pave to a consistent thickness.

On a drainage divide

Commerce sits at about 912 feet on a drainage divide, with streams to the southwest flowing to the Oconee River and those to the northeast flowing to the Savannah. Depending on which side of the ridge your property is on, runoff heads in different directions. We study the slope of each site so pavement sheds water toward the right place.

Near the interstate

I-85 exits 147 and 149 bring traffic and businesses to the city. Lots at shops, restaurants and service businesses need durable drive lanes, sealcoating on a schedule and striping that keeps traffic moving. We patch, overlay, sealcoat and stripe lots in phases so they stay open.

Lots for shops and service businesses

Traffic from the interstate means restaurant, fuel and retail lots in Commerce see a lot of turning and stopping, which scuffs and ruts asphalt faster than parking alone. Drive lanes and entrances usually need a heavier section than stalls. When we repair or overlay a lot, we look at where trucks turn and build those areas up.

Older pavement downtown

Near the historic center, alleys, small lots and driveways have often been patched many times. A mill-and-overlay can bring them back to a clean, even surface without raising curbs and doorways, and we cut keyed joints where the new asphalt meets concrete.

Permits

The City of Commerce, Jackson County and GDOT each maintain roads in and around town. US 441 is a state route, so driveway work in its right-of-way requires a GDOT permit. We confirm which applies.

Call (706) 710-3251 for a free estimate in Commerce.

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Commerce Facts

Harmony Grove roots. Commerce was incorporated as the town of Harmony Grove in 1884 and renamed and reincorporated as Commerce in 1904. The railroad from Athens to Lula opened there in 1876.
Size today. The 2020 census counted 7,387 residents and 3,002 housing units in Commerce.
Highways. I-85 runs through the northern part of the city with Exits 147 and 149, and US 441 runs along the eastern border, 19 miles to Athens.
Drainage divide. Commerce sits at about 912 feet on a divide between Oconee River tributaries to the southwest and Savannah River tributaries to the northeast.

Our Services in Commerce, GA

Commerce Questions

My older driveway is higher than my garage floor. Can you fix that?

Yes. We remove the built-up layers and repave at the right grade so water flows away from the garage.

Do you work along US 441?

Yes. Work in the state right-of-way needs a GDOT permit, which we sort out before scheduling.

Can you sealcoat and restripe our lot in one visit?

Usually, once the sealer cures. We schedule both so the lot is closed as little as possible.

Why does our lot rut at the entrance?

Turning and braking trucks concentrate load there. A heavier section in entrances and lanes holds up better than the stall areas need.

Can you resurface without raising our curb line?

Yes. Milling the old surface first keeps the new asphalt at the same height.

Free Estimates in Commerce, GA

Free estimates in Commerce and northern Jackson County.

Call (706) 710-3251 Free Estimate