In October 2026, Eckles Paving completed an asphalt milling and paving project for UDOT along US-40 in Heber Canyon, Utah. The project involved using our milling machine to remove a 4-foot-wide section of existing asphalt at a depth of 4 inches, creating a controlled trench that our paving crew then filled with 4 inches of new asphalt.
This project is a good example of how asphalt milling and paving work together. Milling allows crews to remove a specific depth and width of existing pavement without unnecessarily disturbing surrounding asphalt. Once the material is removed and the area is prepared, new asphalt can be installed to restore the roadway.
The timing also made this project especially relevant to Utah paving conditions. With work taking place in October in Heber Canyon, our crews were paving during Utah’s fall season, when temperatures and weather conditions become increasingly important to asphalt installation.
Eckles Paving provides asphalt paving and milling for commercial, municipal, roadway, and other projects throughout Utah. Contact Eckles Paving to discuss an upcoming asphalt project.
A 4-foot-wide milled section along US-40.
US-40 Heber Canyon Milling and Paving Project
This October 2026 project took place along US-40 in Heber Canyon and was completed for the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).
- Client: UDOT
- Location: US-40, Heber Canyon, Utah
- Date: October 2026
- Services: Asphalt milling and paving
- Milled width: 4 feet
- Milled depth: 4 inches
- New asphalt depth: 4 inches
Our milling crew removed the existing asphalt in a 4-foot-wide trench to a depth of 4 inches. After the milling portion of the project was complete, our paving crew replaced the removed pavement with 4 inches of new asphalt.
What Is Asphalt Milling?
Asphalt milling is the process of removing a controlled portion of an existing asphalt surface with a specialized milling machine. Instead of tearing out an entire paved area, the machine can remove pavement to a specified width and depth.
A milling machine uses a rotating drum equipped with cutting teeth to grind and remove the asphalt. As the machine moves forward, the drum cuts into the pavement and removes the designated layer.
The removed asphalt material can then be collected and hauled away from the work area. Asphalt pavement is highly recyclable, and reclaimed asphalt pavement can be reused in other pavement applications.
Learn more about the process in our guide to asphalt millings and recycled asphalt.
Why Use a Milling Machine?
Milling gives paving crews precise control over how much existing asphalt is removed. That can make it useful for projects where only a particular section or depth of pavement needs to be replaced.
Depending on the project, milling can be used to:
- Remove deteriorated asphalt
- Create a specific pavement depth
- Prepare an area for new asphalt
- Correct pavement elevations
- Remove surface irregularities
- Prepare transitions between existing and new pavement
- Remove pavement without replacing an entire roadway or parking lot
For the US-40 project, the milling machine allowed our crew to create a defined trench approximately 4 feet wide and 4 inches deep before the paving crew replaced the asphalt.
Milling a 4-Foot-Wide Trench on US-40
This project required more targeted removal than milling an entire roadway surface. Our milling machine followed the designated path and removed a narrow, 4-foot-wide section of pavement.
The existing asphalt was approximately 4 inches deep in the area being removed, so the milling operation continued through the full 4-inch depth required for the project.
Controlling both width and depth is an important advantage of milling equipment. Crews can remove the pavement needed for the project while leaving adjacent asphalt in place.
How an Asphalt Milling Machine Works
A milling machine is much different from a standard asphalt paver.
The milling machine removes pavement, while the paver installs it.
Underneath the milling machine is a rotating cutting drum fitted with numerous cutting teeth. As the drum rotates against the roadway, those teeth break apart the existing asphalt.
The machine allows the operator to control the milling operation so the pavement can be removed to the required depth. The resulting surface can then be cleaned and prepared for the next stage of construction.
For projects that require removing existing pavement before replacement, having the appropriate milling equipment helps create a more controlled transition from demolition to paving.
Eckles Paving mills asphalt along US-40 in Heber Canyon for UDOT.
Preparing the Milled Trench for New Asphalt
Removing the old pavement is only the first part of the process.
Once milling is complete, the area must be prepared so the paving crew can install the replacement asphalt. Loose material and debris need to be removed, and the milled area must be ready to receive the new pavement according to the project requirements.
The condition of the surface beneath the removed asphalt also matters. Asphalt performs best when it is installed over a stable foundation capable of supporting the traffic above it.
Preparation is particularly important when replacing a narrow section because the new pavement must integrate with the existing asphalt on either side.
Replacing the Asphalt With a 4-Inch Paved Section
After milling the trench, our paving crew returned the removed pavement to its original 4-inch depth with new asphalt.
Hot asphalt was placed into the prepared area and compacted to create the replacement pavement section.
Proper compaction is an important part of this process. Compaction increases asphalt density and helps create a stable finished pavement capable of handling roadway traffic.
The goal is not simply to fill the space left by the milling machine. The replacement asphalt needs to become a functional part of the roadway and transition appropriately into the pavement that remains.
The Eckles Paving crew checks the depth of the milled asphalt.
Milling and Paving Work Together
These two services often function as two parts of the same pavement project.
Milling removes the existing asphalt. It gives crews control over the area, width, and depth of pavement being removed.
Paving installs the replacement asphalt. The new material is placed and compacted to restore the pavement surface.
Using both processes allows a contractor to remove pavement where necessary without automatically rebuilding every surrounding section.
Eckles Paving provides both asphalt milling services and asphalt paving services throughout Utah.
Can You Pave Asphalt in the Fall in Utah?
Yes, asphalt paving can be completed during the fall in Utah, but weather and pavement conditions become increasingly important as temperatures drop.
Hot-mix asphalt needs to remain workable long enough for crews to place and compact it properly. Cooler air and pavement temperatures cause asphalt to lose heat faster, reducing the amount of time available for placement and compaction.
This becomes particularly important in mountain and high-elevation areas such as Heber Canyon, where fall temperatures can change quickly.
Rather than relying only on the month or date, paving contractors need to evaluate the actual conditions at the job site.
Why Temperature Matters When Paving in the Fall
Asphalt arrives at the project hot and begins cooling as soon as it leaves the production facility. It continues losing heat during transportation, placement, and compaction.
Warm summer conditions generally provide a longer working window. During cooler fall weather, the pavement can cool more quickly.
Several factors affect how quickly asphalt loses heat:
- Air temperature
- Existing pavement temperature
- Wind
- Cloud cover and sunlight
- Asphalt thickness
- Distance from the asphalt plant
- Transportation time
- Project size and paving sequence
Thicker asphalt lifts generally retain heat longer than thin lifts, but every project still needs to be evaluated based on actual conditions.
Fall Paving in Heber Canyon
October can bring beautiful fall conditions to Heber Canyon, but it also marks the transition toward colder weather.
Mountain areas can experience colder mornings, changing temperatures, wind, and rapidly shifting weather. Those conditions make scheduling and coordination especially important.
Crews need to consider asphalt production, transportation, milling, site preparation, paving, and compaction so the work progresses efficiently while conditions are appropriate.
Our guide to the best time for asphalt installation in Utah explains how seasonal conditions affect paving projects.
Why Fall Is Still an Important Paving Season in Utah
Summer is a busy paving season, but construction and pavement work does not immediately stop when September ends.
Utah contractors often continue paving into the fall when weather, pavement temperatures, project specifications, and asphalt plant availability allow the work to be completed properly.
Fall can also be an important time for roadway and commercial projects that need to be completed before winter weather arrives.
The key is recognizing that acceptable paving conditions matter more than simply looking at the calendar.
Why Pavement Depth Matters
Asphalt thickness is determined by the needs of the specific pavement rather than a universal number used on every project.
Factors can include traffic loading, pavement design, underlying materials, expected vehicle types, and project specifications.
For this UDOT project, our crew milled the existing asphalt to a depth of 4 inches and replaced it with 4 inches of asphalt.
Commercial parking lots, residential driveways, industrial properties, and roadways can all require different pavement designs. Learn more about how asphalt thickness is determined.
Asphalt Work for High-Traffic Roadways
Roadway pavement experiences different demands from many residential or light-duty asphalt surfaces.
Continuous traffic and heavy vehicles place repeated loads on the pavement structure. Construction methods, materials, thickness, compaction, and the underlying pavement structure all contribute to long-term performance.
Eckles Paving works on commercial, industrial, municipal, and roadway projects where pavement needs to support demanding traffic conditions.
Our article about planning asphalt pavement for heavy truck traffic explains why heavier loads require additional consideration.
Eckles Paving’s equipment along US-40 in Heber.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asphalt Milling and Fall Paving
What is asphalt milling?
Asphalt milling uses a specialized machine with a rotating cutting drum to remove a controlled portion of existing asphalt pavement. Crews can mill specific areas and depths depending on the project.
How deep did Eckles Paving mill the asphalt on US-40?
For this October 2026 UDOT project in Heber Canyon, Eckles Paving milled a 4-foot-wide trench approximately 4 inches deep.
How much new asphalt was installed?
After milling, our paving crew replaced the removed pavement with 4 inches of new asphalt.
Why mill asphalt instead of removing the entire roadway?
Milling allows crews to target the portion of pavement that needs to be removed. Depending on the project, surrounding pavement can remain in place while the designated section is prepared for replacement.
Can asphalt be paved in October in Utah?
Yes, asphalt can be paved during October when temperatures, pavement conditions, weather, material specifications, and other project requirements are appropriate. Cooler weather reduces the working time available before hot asphalt loses the heat needed for effective compaction.
Does Eckles Paving provide asphalt milling in Utah?
Yes. Eckles Paving provides asphalt milling as well as paving, grading, asphalt repair, and other pavement services throughout Utah.
Why Choose Eckles Paving for Asphalt Milling and Paving?
Eckles Paving has more than 35 years of experience completing asphalt projects throughout Utah. Our crews work on commercial properties, developments, industrial facilities, municipalities, roadways, HOAs, schools, churches, and residential projects.
Our equipment and crews allow us to handle multiple stages of pavement construction, including milling, grading, paving, and asphalt repair.
Eckles Paving is licensed and insured and has earned more than 1,300 five-star reviews.
Learn more about Eckles Paving and our asphalt services throughout Utah.
Asphalt Paving and Milling Throughout Utah
Eckles Paving provides asphalt paving, milling, repair, and pavement maintenance throughout the Wasatch Front and communities across Utah, including Heber City, Park City, Utah County, Salt Lake County, Weber County, Cache County, and surrounding areas.
Visit our Utah asphalt service areas page to learn more about where our crews work.
Eckles Paving compacts the new asphalt.
Related Asphalt Resources
- What Are Asphalt Millings and Should You Use Them?
- When Is the Best Time for Asphalt Installation in Utah?
- How Does a Utah Asphalt Company Determine Asphalt Thickness?
- How Does a Utah Asphalt Company Plan Pavement for Heavy Truck Traffic?
- How Utah Weather Damages Asphalt
Visit our asphalt paving tips and resources for more information about paving, milling, pavement maintenance, and asphalt repair in Utah.
Request a Free Asphalt Estimate
If your Utah property needs asphalt milling, paving, repair, grading, or pavement maintenance, Eckles Paving can help evaluate the project and determine the appropriate approach.
Contact Eckles Paving for a free asphalt estimate.
Industry Resources
- Asphalt Institute — Technical and educational information about asphalt pavement construction and performance.
- Federal Highway Administration Pavements — Resources related to pavement construction, preservation, and performance.
- American Public Works Association — Information and resources for roadway, infrastructure, and public works professionals.
