Asphalt Paving in Unity, Oregon: 2026 Cost & Service Guide

Asphalt Paving in Unity, Oregon

Unity is about as remote as paving gets in Baker County. This tiny town sits high in the upper Burnt River valley on Highway 26, near Unity Reservoir and surrounded by the Malheur National Forest and ranch country. The elevation is high, winters are long and cold, and the nearest asphalt plant is a serious distance away. Paving here is real work, and a contractor who treats a Unity driveway like a job in a bigger town is not accounting for the haul, the climate, or the short season. If you own property in Unity, this guide explains the work, the realistic cost, and what to look for in a contractor who can actually serve this corner of the state.

What Asphalt Paving Costs in Unity

In a place as remote as Unity, logistics drive cost more than square footage. Hot-mix asphalt has to stay hot the entire haul from plant to job, and that haul is long. The combination of distance and a small, isolated job pushes Unity pricing to the upper end of any published range, and often above it.

Industry baseline ranges shown below. Actual costs vary with sub-base condition, haul distance, mobilization, and current asphalt market pricing.

Project Type	Industry Baseline Range
Residential driveway (new)	$4–$8 per sq ft
Driveway overlay/resurface	$2.50–$5 per sq ft
Small commercial lot	$4–$10 per sq ft
Full tear-out and repave	$6–$12 per sq ft

These are national baseline figures. For a town as far out as Unity, mobilization and haul costs frequently push real numbers above the high end, especially on small jobs where a crew and hot mix travel a very long way for limited square footage. For statewide drivers, see our asphalt paving cost in Oregon guide.

The honest takeaway: the more remote and smaller your job, the more the fixed cost of getting hot mix and a crew to your site dominates the total. Coordinating with neighbors or pairing a driveway with other site work is the best way to spread that cost in a place like Unity.

Why Unity Ground Demands Extra Attention

Deep Freeze-Thaw

At Unity's high elevation, winters are long and the frost line drives deep. Water in or under asphalt freezes, expands, and thaws through a long winter, again and again. Pavement on a weak or poorly drained base cracks and heaves fast here. A proper compacted aggregate base, correct thickness, and real drainage are not extras at this elevation, they are what stands between pavement that lasts and pavement that fails in a few seasons.

Soil and Sub-Base

Upper Burnt River valley ground runs from rocky forest and foothill soil to valley loam. A good contractor evaluates the specific site, builds the right depth of crushed aggregate base, and compacts it in lifts. Skipping base prep to save money is the single most common reason rural high-country driveways fail early.

Drainage and Snowmelt

Unity gets real snow, and spring snowmelt moves a lot of water. Asphalt that holds a low spot or sits where meltwater pools will not last. Grading to shed water, and adding a culvert or drain where needed, protects the investment in a snow climate.

The Paving Season Is Genuinely Short

At Unity's elevation the reliable paving window is narrow, roughly June through September. Hot-mix asphalt needs warm ground and air to compact and cure, and at high elevation the warm season is short with cool nights arriving early. Paving outside that window risks poor compaction and a weak mat. Because the window is short and crews travel from the Willamette Valley base, scheduling early is essential. Booking in spring for summer work is the only reliable way to get a slot.

Permits and County Requirements

Paving on private property usually does not require a permit. Connecting an approach to a county road or to Highway 26 right-of-way typically does, and a state route connection involves ODOT permitting. Baker County has its own thresholds for approaches and grading on larger sites. A contractor who works the county regularly knows when a permit applies and handles it.

Choosing a Paving Contractor in Unity

Unity is one of the more remote towns in the region, and the contractors who serve it are traveling a long way. Worth checking before you hire:

• Do they build a real base? Ask the aggregate depth and compaction method.
• Do they build for deep freeze-thaw? A contractor used to mild climates may underbuild for high-elevation Baker County.
• Is the quote honest about mobilization? Long-haul jobs carry real travel and haul cost; a good quote names it.
• Can they show regional work? See our portfolio for completed eastern Oregon projects.

Cojo travels from its Willamette Valley base to serve Unity and the wider Baker County area. We pave for high-country conditions, with proper base, real drainage, and honest scheduling around the short mountain season.

For related local services, see driveway repair in Unity and driveway sealcoating in Unity. For the nearest larger market, see asphalt paving in Baker City, and for the region, our Baker County asphalt services page.