With the growth in use of oil, bitumen, a naturally occurring byeproduct of oil, replaced tar to seal the surface. As motor cars became more common, it was imperative to provide a surface which could simultaneously withstand sustained, heavy use while remaining smooth to prevent puncturing tyres. A derivative of Tarmacadam, an innovation of the compacted stone Macadam surfaces invented in the 1820s by Scottish engineer John McAdam to provide a smooth, easy to construct paving surface, Welsh engineer Edgar Hooley added tar to seal the roads when laying, to prevent wear and dust. The image represents a physical area of 1600 x 1064 mm (63 x 41.9 inches) in total.Ī cost effective, highly durable and weather-sealed surface used almost exclusively in engineering projects, aggregate asphalt is renowned for its grip, extremely hard-wearing nature and heavy load-bearing qualities.
A seamless surfacing texture with an asphalt surface.
