Jackson is one of the largest townships in New Jersey by land area, and it shows in the driveways. Here Dan The Paver puts down long asphalt driveways through pine woods, wide drives in newer subdivisions and asphalt parking lots for the businesses, congregations and associations of this northern Ocean County community.
Big lots, long drives
Much of Jackson grew out of farmland and forest, and many homes still sit well back from the road. Along Route 571, Route 528 and Route 526, and in older sections like Cassville and Whitesville, a driveway can run a long way from the street to a detached garage or barn. Those drives need more than a thin layer of asphalt: they need a graded, compacted base the whole way, with attention to low spots where water collects after a storm.
Newer subdivisions built over the last generation are different. They have cul-de-sacs, two- and three-car garages, and wide driveways that flare at the apron. When those original builder drives start to crack and settle, owners often want to widen them for an extra car or a work van. Our driveway widening work starts by extending the base properly under the new section so it does not sink away from the old one.
Jackson also has active adult communities and townhome associations whose private roads and parking areas need regular care. We work with boards and managers to plan repaving in phases so residents keep access.
Pine Barrens soil and what it means for your base
Jackson sits on the northern edge of the Pine Barrens. The soil here is mostly sand, sometimes very fine and loose, with pockets of gravelly ground and occasional wetter areas near the headwaters of the Toms River and the branches of the Metedeconk. Sand drains well, which is a plus, but it moves unless it is confined and compacted.
On a Jackson job we typically:
- strip the old surface and any loose topsoil or root mat
- cut back tree roots that would heave the new asphalt
- add and compact a layer of dense-graded aggregate in lifts
- set the grade so water leaves the driveway rather than running down its length
- place and roll the asphalt at a thickness suited to the traffic
Properties close to streams or in low ground may need more excavation and a thicker base. We tell you at the estimate if your lot falls into that group.
Commercial lots from Route 9 to I-195
Jackson’s commercial activity is spread along Route 9 on the Lakewood side, County Line Road, Bennetts Mills Road and the roads near Six Flags Great Adventure and the I-195 interchanges. Shopping plazas, offices, houses of worship, schools and warehouses all need lots that drain, hold up to trucks and stay safe for pedestrians. We handle milling, base repair and repaving so a lot can be brought back without starting from bare ground.
Before you start
New aprons, additional curb cuts and expanded hard surfaces may need approval. Check with the Jackson Township construction or zoning office, and with the county if the driveway meets a county road.
We also serve neighbors in Lakewood and Howell, and you can find every Ocean County town on our Ocean County paving page.
Jackson paving questions
Our Jackson driveway runs a few hundred feet back into the woods. Can you pave the whole length?
Yes. Long wooded drives are common in Jackson, especially off the county roads like 571 and 528. We grade the full run, clear roots that would push up through the surface, compact a solid aggregate base and pave it in passes. Some owners pave the whole length at once, others start with the section nearest the house and the apron and add the rest later.
Pine needles and sandy soil wash onto my drive every storm. Will paving fix that?
Paving helps, but grading does the real work. Jackson's sandy Pine Barrens soil erodes easily where water runs across it. We shape the driveway with a crown or a cross slope so water sheds to the sides, and we keep the edges firm so sand is not undercut. Keeping the surface swept of needles also helps it last.
Can you handle a parking lot for a church or a small office along Route 9 or County Line Road in Jackson?
Yes. We pave and repave asphalt lots for churches, offices, schools, and businesses throughout Jackson. We look at the entrance, the drainage inlets and how traffic moves through the lot, then mill, repair or rebuild the base as needed before laying fresh asphalt.
Is a building permit needed for a new driveway in Jackson Township?
It depends on the work. A straight replacement in the same footprint may be handled differently than a wider drive, a second curb cut or a new apron onto a county road. Call the Jackson Township construction or zoning office first. If your drive meets a county road, the county may have its own requirements too.
