Parking lot and drive lane projects are a necessity, but they can be frustrating for property owners. Leaving asphalt in disrepair can lead to liability issues and lost business. However, opening up pavement for construction creates issues of its own. Construction can impact customer access, employee parking, deliveries, and daily business operations.
Many business owners avoid the problem by ignoring needed maintenance. Unfortunately, this typically leads to more disruptive (and expensive) construction later on. But there are ways to effectively manage asphalt projects while minimizing disruption.
With careful planning, communication, and coordination, most paving projects can occur with business staying open and operational. The secret to limiting delays, hassle, and frustrations is understanding how to work around your tenants, traffic patterns, and business needs. Whether you own a retail plaza, medical complex, apartment buildings, or office park, here are some tips to keep business moving forward while completing your next asphalt project.
It goes without saying that accessibility is important to business. If your customers can't access your business, your employees can't park, and your delivery trucks can't access your loading zones, you could experience significant losses. Here are some of the ways that parking lot construction can affect businesses.
Asphalt projects should ultimately help your business by improving your property. Avoid letting disruptions outweigh the positive impacts of your paving project. Following these tips can help you limit the challenges typically associated with parking lots and road construction.
Every property is unique. A hospital will have different traffic patterns than a warehouse. A condominium complex will have different tenant needs than a campus. Take time to understand how traffic moves through your property before developing your construction plan.
Your asphalt contractor should walk every square inch of your parking lots and drive lanes and ask questions before beginning any work. Pay attention to:
Knowing how people use your property will help you decide how best to limit disruptions. Your construction team can use this information to create a plan that meets your business needs.
Any property has times where less traffic flows through than others. Weekend traffic is typically much lower at business offices. Weekend traffic is typically much heavier at retail stores. Most warehouses receive shipments at night. Doctors' appointments are typically only during regular business hours.
Figuring out your peak and non-peak times will allow you to cut down on disruption. Whenever possible, asphalt contractors should aim to schedule work when the least amount of people will be impacted.
Many asphalt projects can be completed overnight. Performing paving work, parking lot repair, striping, and preventive maintenance at night will allow contractors to do the bulk of their work while few customers visit your property. If your parking lot is striped overnight, your lots can open to the public partially completed in the morning. Performing parking lot work at night is ideal for:
Night time construction does take some careful planning. But for most businesses, overnight parking lot construction is one of the best ways to limit the impact of your asphalt project.
Too many property owners assume they must close their parking lot completely while work is being performed. This couldn't be further from the truth. Many asphalt projects can be performed in sections. Splitting your parking lot into smaller areas allows the contractor to keep areas of your parking lot open while working on other sections.
Benefits of working in phases include:
For many larger properties, working in sections is the difference between keeping operations normal and causing unnecessary headaches for your tenants and customers.
When driving on an unfamiliar route, you likely appreciate clear directions. The same can be said for your customers. When patrons visit your property, you don't want them struggling to figure out where to go. Below are some common areas where you should always maintain clear access.
By using proper traffic control devices, you can help everyone easily navigate your property. The easier you make it for customers, tenants, employees, vendors, and anyone else to access your property. The less impact your asphalt project will have on daily operations.
Many disruptions are caused by a lack of communication. Sure, your parking lot or drive lane may be disrupted by construction. But if people are aware of the construction before they visit your property, it won't bother them. Communicate your plan with every stakeholder in advance. Every property is different. Who you need to communicate your asphalt project will depend on your property. You may need to inform:
Your communication should include:
Keeping your stakeholders in the loop can reduce unnecessary frustrations. Be sure to provide updates as they happen. This will help manage expectations.
Commercial properties can be complex. Some businesses may receive daily deliveries. Other tenants may need customer access all day. Restaurants typically have the lunch and dinner rush. Your tenants should have a say in what your asphalt project looks like.
Different businesses have different needs. By coordinating with your tenants and other vendors, you can identify ways to make your asphalt project less disruptive. Many times, contractors can shift their work schedule to cause the least amount of disruption.
Fire lanes and emergency access points should never be blocked without proper permitting and approval. Part of your planning process should include ensuring that your tenants, emergency services, and property manager approve all construction zones. Obstructing emergency access can put people at risk. It also leaves you liable.
When closing off areas of your parking lot, you may need to provide additional parking. Don't force your customers or tenants to park miles away from your property. Here are some examples of creative solutions to offer when you are short on parking.
Temporary parking solutions don't have to be complicated. But they can make a big difference in the experience your customers have while visiting your property.
When creating your pavement maintenance plan, you should figure out what areas of your parking lot are most important. Some areas of your property are more important than others. These areas typically have the highest traffic. When possible, try to complete these areas first.
High traffic areas may include:
By completing these areas first, you can keep your most important traffic areas accessible as long as possible.
Preparation is key to completing your asphalt project quickly. Asphalt contractors that take the time to properly prepare can typically complete construction faster. Here are some things that should be prepared before your asphalt project begins.
Construction teams that show up ready to work will help your project stay on schedule.
You can minimize operational disruption by preventing reconstruction before it's needed. Preventative maintenance helps prolong the life of your parking lot and help you avoid costly asphalt projects.
Preventative maintenance can include:
Preventative maintenance is almost always less expensive than large-scale reconstruction. Preventative maintenance can typically be rescheduled to cause the least amount of disruption.
Parking lots, driveways, and roadways must eventually be disrupted to be maintained. There's no getting around that fact. But you can limit the inconvenience you cause. Give your clients, tenants, and customers realistic timeframes. If something will take 2 days, don't tell them a day. Understand what will happen, when it will happen, and how long it will take.
Commercial properties pose unique safety challenges. Construction zones are filled with hazards such as construction equipment, asphalt trucks, fresh pavement, and changing traffic patterns.
Keep people safe by ensuring your construction team has:
Safety should always be your number one priority. Asphalt contractors that don't care about your safety don't deserve your business.
Once construction crews have finished an area, take the time to walk through your parking lot before you open it back up to traffic. Doing so will allow you to ensure your parking lot meets your standards before use. Points to pay attention to during your walkthrough should include:
If any issues are noticed during your walkthrough, you can typically have them corrected before your lot opens back up to traffic.
Asphalt contractors come in all shapes and sizes. But not all asphalt contractors will be willing to work around your business to limit disruptions. The right contractor will work with you to schedule your asphalt project during off-hours. They will also develop a phased construction plan that allows you to keep parts of your property open while other sections are under construction.
Looking for an asphalt contractor that values your business? Fill out our online request form or give us a call today. We'll work with you to develop a customized construction plan that meets your business needs while limiting any unnecessary disruptions.
There is no denying that asphalt projects can disrupt daily business operations. But with the proper planning and preparation, you can limit the headache typically associated with parking lot and road construction. Develop a customized traffic management plan that works for your property. Then take the time to understand your expected traffic patterns before construction begins.
Not all asphalt projects affect daily business operations the same way. Be sure to evaluate your specific project and develop a game plan that you can easily execute. Property owners who plan ahead of time can easily limit disruptions to their business.
Traffic management is crucial when it comes to limiting unnecessary disruptions. While many parking lot owners are concerned about the actual construction of their pavement, very few take the time to plan out how vehicles and pedestrians will safely access their property during construction. Developing a traffic management plan is easily one of the best ways to keep your business moving while your asphalt project is being constructed.
Technology can help you schedule asphalt projects with minimal impact on your business. From initial scheduling to providing status updates along the way, there are several tools that allow you to stay connected with contractors and keep your customers and tenants informed.
Project Management Software: Owners, managers, and contractors can now use software to track job progress, stay on schedule, and instantly notify all parties of any changes to the construction schedule. Project management tools also allow stakeholders to see what's happening before they visit the site. This increases visibility, and reduces the unknown for everyone involved.
Traffic Flow and Site Access: Contractors can also utilize technology to plan for optimal traffic flow before they ever arrive on site. Aerial images, digital maps, and even drones can help crews determine how traffic will be impacted during construction. With the right technology, you can create a site-access plan that allows for maximum efficiency while keeping your business accessible to customers and tenants.
Website and Text Updates: Many businesses take it one step further by providing email and text notifications, social media updates, and website postings to keep clients and customers informed about what's happening on site. Communication is key to reducing confusion, and these tools can help direct visitors and reduce business interruptions.
Technology doesn't mean your business won't be affected by construction, but it can help eliminate some of the headaches commonly associated with asphalt projects. Stay diligent in your communication, and you'll be more likely to keep your business running as normal while paving takes place.
Asphalt projects aren't just a one-time fix. Once your asphalt has been repaired, resurfaced, or replaced, you should create a plan to protect your pavement from future damage. Implementing a pavement maintenance plan is one of the best ways to maximize your pavement's lifespan and limit future disruptions to your business.
While some may treat asphalt repairs as a one-time cost, it's important to think of your pavement as a long-term investment. Without regular maintenance, you could be subjecting your new pavement to premature deterioration and unnecessary costs.
Think of pavement maintenance as an insurance policy for your pavement. Regularly scheduled inspections can reveal minor issues before they become major problems. Catching cracks, drainage issues, and wear early can lead to inexpensive repairs and less downtime for your business. Preventative maintenance services, such as crack sealing, sealcoating, and spot patching, can drastically slow the deterioration of your pavement.
Once you've graduated your pavement with a protective maintenance plan, be sure to keep future pavement evaluations and maintenance in your budget. No one wants to be caught off guard when pavement problems become severe. Instead of waiting years between asphalt projects, maintain your pavement on a regular basis and budget for the cost of maintenance. Spreading out the costs can help your business plan for pavement repairs and replacements.
Not only will well maintained pavement save you money in the long run, but it also creates a better environment for your customers and employees. A clean driveway or lot gives your business an appealing look, while frequent repairs and tunnel vision patches can leave your customers with a negative impression. Proper maintenance can also save you from unexpected business closures or access restrictions. Plan for the future by protecting your pavement today.
Asphalt repairs and paving projects shouldn't force you to choose between maintaining your property and serving your customers.
At Top Job Asphalt, we specialize in planning and executing commercial asphalt projects with minimal disruption to daily operations. From phased construction schedules and overnight work to strategic traffic management and clear communication, our team works to keep your property accessible throughout the project.
Contact Top Job Asphalt today to discuss your paving needs and learn how we can help protect your pavement investment while keeping your business running smoothly.