Asphalt Paving in Hinkley, CA

Asphalt paving in Hinkley serves a small, rural community about 14 miles northwest of Barstow, just north of State Route 58. Hinkley is unincorporated San Bernardino County. Its population has been shrinking: the ZIP code area had 1,915 residents in 2000 and 1,692 in 2010, and the 2020 census reported 241 households.

Why it shrank

Starting in 1952, groundwater in Hinkley was contaminated with hexavalent chromium from a natural gas pipeline compressor station. The case, investigated by Erin Brockovich in 1993, settled in 1996 for $333 million. A 2016 New York Times article described the town as slowly becoming a ghost town. The properties that remain are largely rural homes, farms and yards.

Rural work

Paving here is practical work for owners who live and farm on their land:

• Gravel drives paved from the road to the house
• Working pads around barns, shops and equipment
• Turnarounds for trucks and trailers
• Repairs to old asphalt broken up by heavy use

Building for heavy use

Farm and equipment traffic calls for a deeper aggregate base and thicker asphalt where loads turn and park, plus wide entrances so trucks do not chew the edges.

Sand and wind

Hinkley sits on open desert, and wind carries sand across every surface. We clean before paving, compact shoulders and choose calm days for sealing.

State Route 58 frontage

Properties fronting Route 58 reach a state highway, where entrance work involves Caltrans. County roads need a San Bernardino County encroachment permit.

Costs

HomeGuide lists standard asphalt at about $5 to $12 per square foot and recycled asphalt at about $4 to $9. HomeAdvisor's range for larger paved areas is about $2 to $4.50 per square foot. Remote and heavy-use jobs vary, so the proposal itemizes base, paving and travel.

Scheduling

We group work in the Barstow area to keep travel costs down and plan hot-mix delivery so the asphalt arrives ready to place.

Heat

Hinkley shares the low desert heat around Barstow. Sealcoating every few years and sealing cracks before winter keep pavement from drying out and breaking up.

Edges on open ground

Without curbs, edges need compacted shoulders to stay intact under trucks and wind.

Farm roads

Working farms use internal roads for trucks, equipment and feed delivery. Paving the busiest stretch, typically from the road to the barn or shop, cuts dust and ruts where they cause the most trouble.

Long distances

Hinkley's properties are spread out, and many have long drives from county roads. We price by area and can phase long drives, starting with the stretch that sees the most traffic.

Sealing and repairs

For older asphalt that is still sound, crack sealing and a seal coat can add years of life at a fraction of replacement cost.

Working with what is there

Old asphalt and gravel on rural properties can often be crushed and reused as part of the new base, which saves hauling and material. We check whether the existing material is suitable before deciding.

Get a proposal

Call (760) 383-7312 or

Get a Free Estimate

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