New Asphalt Driveway Installation in Wilsonville, Oregon

Installing a New Asphalt Driveway in Wilsonville

A new asphalt driveway is one of the more noticeable upgrades a Wilsonville homeowner can make — whether it's a first driveway on a newer build in a neighborhood like Villebois or a complete redo on an established property near the Willamette. Built right, it's a 20-to-30-year investment. Built on a weak base, it cracks apart within a few wet winters.

This guide walks through how a new driveway gets installed here, what permits and approach standards apply in Clackamas County, and how local soil shapes the base work that determines whether it lasts.

The New Driveway Installation Process

A proper installation follows a clear sequence, and skipping steps is where cheap jobs go wrong. Our step-by-step asphalt driveway installation process covers the full statewide method; here's how it plays out in Wilsonville:

1. Layout and excavation — The driveway is marked and excavated to the depth needed for base rock plus pavement. Getting depth right on the south metro's moisture-holding soils is essential.
2. Sub-grade preparation — The exposed sub-grade is graded and compacted, with soft or wet spots addressed — often with geotextile fabric to separate base rock from clay.
3. Base rock installation — Crushed aggregate is spread, graded, and compacted in lifts. This base carries vehicle weight and resists seasonal ground movement.
4. Grading for drainage — The surface is shaped to move Wilsonville's heavy winter rain away from the home and off the driveway.
5. Asphalt paving — Hot-mix asphalt is laid as a binder course and a surface course to the specified thickness.
6. Compaction — Heavy rolling compacts the asphalt while hot, locking in density and a smooth finish.
7. Curing — Foot traffic within a day, vehicles within a few days depending on temperature.

Permits and the Driveway Approach

In Wilsonville, a new driveway connecting to a public street typically requires an approach permit from the city, and driveways tied to county roads fall under Clackamas County standards. The approach — where your driveway meets the road right-of-way — must meet width, sight-distance, and drainage requirements so it doesn't interfere with the street or roadside drainage.

A reputable contractor handles this permitting and builds the approach to standard. In master-planned areas, the approach is often roughed in already, while a custom driveway off a county road usually needs its own permit. Confirm this is included before work begins.

Base Prep for Clackamas County Soil

The single biggest factor in how long your Wilsonville driveway lasts is what's underneath it. The south metro's valley soils run from silty loam to heavier clay near the river, and both absorb water through the long wet season and move as they wet and dry. Asphalt laid over a thin or poorly compacted base on that ground cracks from below within a few years.

A driveway built to last uses adequate base rock depth, compaction in lifts rather than all at once, and frequently a geotextile fabric layer to keep base rock from sinking into the clay. Our driveway base preparation guide explains why this invisible stage matters more than any other.

Timing Your Installation in Wilsonville

Asphalt needs dry conditions and surface temperatures above roughly 50°F to compact and cure correctly. In the Willamette Valley, that puts the practical installation window from late spring through early fall. The valley's wet season is long and the summer dry spell is the sweet spot for paving — and the busiest time for contractors.

Most residential installations take two to four days of active work depending on size, base condition, and weather. Planning in spring for a summer install gives you the best shot at preferred scheduling.

What It Costs and What Comes After

New driveway installation in Wilsonville has been baselined around $7 to $13 per square foot, with base condition, removal, and slope driving the final number. Our asphalt driveway cost in Wilsonville guide breaks down pricing by size.

Once the driveway is in, maintenance protects it. Sealcoat after the first six to twelve months of curing, keep cracks filled, and stay on a regular schedule — our asphalt maintenance services handle this. For the full lifecycle from install through decades of use, the complete asphalt driveway guide for Oregon is the hub.