Puget Sound's oldest American settlement

Asphalt Paving in Tumwater, WA

Historic neighborhoods along the Deschutes and fast-growing subdivisions on the prairie.

Free on-site estimates
Itemized written quote: base depth and asphalt thickness spelled out
Paving scheduled around the South Sound wet season

From the Falls to the Prairie

Asphalt paving in Tumwater spans some of the oldest and newest ground in the South Sound. Settlers platted the town as Newmarket in 1845, making it the oldest permanent American settlement on Puget Sound, at the falls where the Deschutes River meets Budd Inlet. The name comes from the Chinook Jargon word for waterfall. Today the city stretches well south onto prairie and outwash plains near the airport, and it has been growing fast: 17,371 people in 2010, 25,350 in 2020, and an estimated 27,826 by 2024.

Two kinds of ground

Near the river and the older neighborhoods, ground conditions vary and some lots sit on slopes that send runoff toward driveways. To the south, around the airport and the newer subdivisions, the land is flatter and sits on glacial outwash, the sandy, gravelly material that USDA soil surveys describe as somewhat excessively drained. Outwash can be an excellent base once the topsoil is stripped, but it can also ravel at unsupported edges. We adjust the base and edge work for the ground on each site.

When I-5 came through

When Interstate 5 was completed in 1958, 100 buildings in downtown Tumwater were demolished to make room for it. The freeway still divides the city, and many older homes and businesses sit on streets that were reshaped then. Driveways and commercial lots from that era often have several generations of patches. If the patches cover more of the surface than the original asphalt, replacement usually costs less over time.

Right-of-way work in Tumwater

Tumwater Municipal Code Chapter 12.16 requires a right-of-way access permit to construct, excavate or install facilities in the city right-of-way, approved by the city engineer. The chapter requires security of 150 percent of the estimated cost before work starts and a two-year maintenance bond of 10 percent of the surface restoration cost, with restoration to WSDOT and APWA standards. If a driveway project reaches into the right-of-way, we check the current process with the city before planning the schedule.

New subdivisions and sealcoating

Much of Tumwater's recent growth is in new subdivisions with relatively young driveways. The best investment for these is maintenance: crack sealing before the rainy season, sealcoating every few years in dry weather, and keeping water from downspouts off the pavement. Done consistently, that can delay a full replacement by many years.

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What to Know in Tumwater

Oldest settlement. Platted as Newmarket in 1845, Tumwater is described as the oldest permanent Anglo-American settlement on Puget Sound, where the Deschutes River enters Budd Inlet.
Fast growth. Tumwater grew from 17,371 residents in 2010 to 25,350 in 2020, a 45.9 percent increase, with an estimated 27,826 in 2024.
Freeway through downtown. Building Interstate 5, completed in 1958, required demolishing 100 buildings in downtown Tumwater.
Right-of-way permits. TMC 12.16 requires a city engineer-approved right-of-way permit, 150 percent security, and a two-year maintenance bond of 10 percent of restoration cost.

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Our Services in Tumwater, WA

Tumwater Questions

Does Tumwater require a permit for work near the street?

Construction or excavation in the city right-of-way needs a right-of-way permit under TMC 12.16, approved by the city engineer. We confirm what applies to your project before scheduling.

Is the prairie ground in south Tumwater good for paving?

Gravelly outwash usually drains well and makes a solid base once topsoil is removed. Edges need support so they do not crumble. We check each site.

How often should a newer driveway be sealed?

Every few years for most homes, after the asphalt has cured. Crack sealing before winter matters just as much.

Can you repave a business lot near Capitol Boulevard?

Yes. We repair, overlay and rebuild commercial lots and phase work to keep entrances open.

Free Estimates in Tumwater, WA

Free estimates for Tumwater driveways and lots.

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