Asphalt Paving in Story City, IA

Asphalt paving in Story City deals with a town that is both old and on the river. Story City was laid out in 1878 as Fairview and renamed in 1881 for Justice Joseph Story. It sits on Interstate 35 about ten minutes north of Ames, with the Skunk River running along City Park, where the Skunk River Canoe Trail begins. The 2020 census counted 3,352 residents. Many homes here are older, and a lot of the property around town is rural, with long drives off county roads.

Low ground near the river

Properties close to the Skunk River and its low ground tend to have wetter soil, and wet soil under a driveway is what lets frost heave it. On those lots we pay extra attention to the base: we dig out soft material, use more crushed stone, and grade the surface so water leaves the pavement quickly. A driveway that drains will outlast one that is simply thicker.

Long rural drives

Rural homes and acreages around Story City often have long gravel drives that owners want to pave, at least near the house. Paving a whole quarter-mile drive is rarely worth it; paving the parking area and the stretch by the garage usually is. Where the drive meets a county road, Story County's driveway and entrance policy applies: a $25 permit for new or widened entrances, a width of 20 to 45 feet, and County Engineer permission before paving the entrance. New drives also need 500 feet of sight distance both ways and must sit at least 300 feet from other drives and intersections.

Town lots and downtown

The historic downtown sits less than two miles west of I-35 and draws visitors for Scandinavian Days, the 1913 carousel and the Story Theatre. Business and church lots in town tend to be small. We patch, overlay, seal and stripe them and work around event weekends.

Our approach

We start with a visit, look at drainage and the current surface, and give you written options. If the base is sound, an overlay or repairs and a sealcoat may be all you need. If it has failed, we explain why and price a replacement.

Visitors and event weekends

Scandinavian Days has been held in the first week of June every year since 1965, and the 1913 Herschell-Spillman carousel runs daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Businesses and churches downtown often want lot repairs done before the summer crowds. Spring scheduling makes that work.

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