About Concrete Aprons and Approaches
Concrete aprons and approaches handle the transition between public roadways and private commercial properties. These areas face the most intense traffic loads and turning stresses on any site, requiring heavy-duty construction that standard parking lot specifications do not provide.
Commercial aprons serve as the first impression of your property and the primary access point for all vehicles. Failed aprons create liability exposure, damage vehicles, and project a poor property image. Our apron construction addresses these concerns with appropriate thickness, reinforcement, and joint design.
Approach design must accommodate turning movements of the largest vehicles expected to use the property. We evaluate sight lines, turning radii, and traffic patterns to design approaches that work practically while meeting municipal requirements. This includes coordination with local traffic engineering when driveway permits are required.
For existing properties, we replace failed aprons and upgrade approaches to current standards. This work often requires coordination with the municipality on temporary access during construction and may involve matching into existing public improvements.
What’s Included
- Site evaluation and traffic analysis
- Municipal coordination where required
- Existing apron demolition
- Excavation and subgrade preparation
- Heavy reinforcement installation
- Concrete placement and finishing
- Joint installation and treatment
- Transition matching to existing improvements
- Permit coordination and inspection
Frequently Asked Questions
What thickness is required for commercial aprons?
Commercial aprons typically require 7-10 inches of concrete depending on expected traffic. Aprons serving heavy trucks may need 10-12 inches with additional reinforcement. We design based on the largest vehicles expected to use the property.
Do you handle municipal permits for driveway work?
We coordinate with municipal requirements for driveway permits when needed. This includes providing required drawings, meeting inspection requirements, and ensuring completed work matches municipal specifications.
How do you transition aprons to existing roadway?
Transitions to existing municipal improvements require careful grade matching and joint treatment. We coordinate with the municipality on acceptable transition details and match existing curb and gutter profiles.
Can you widen existing aprons for increased traffic?
Yes. We regularly widen aprons and approaches to accommodate increased traffic or larger vehicles. This work requires coordination with existing improvements and may need municipal approval for expanded access.
What causes commercial aprons to fail?
Common failures result from inadequate thickness for actual loads, poor joint design that allows corner breaks, subgrade problems from utility cuts, and lack of proper reinforcement. Our designs address all these failure modes.