paving machine

Also known as: paver

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

A paving machine, also known as a paver, is a piece of construction equipment used to lay down paving materials like asphalt or concrete. These machines distribute the material uniformly to create a surface of the required thickness, shape, and width, typically for one or two traffic lanes. Modern paving machines often use laser guidance for precise level control and can apply preliminary compaction while screeding and finishing the pavement surface. They are essential for the efficient construction of roads and other paved surfaces.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

road
Construction
…paving material increasingly involves a paving machine for distributing the aggregate, asphalt, or concrete uniformly and to the required thickness, shape, and width (typically, one or two traffic lanes). The paving machine can slipform the edges of the course, thus avoiding the need for fixed side-forms. As it progresses down…
Read More
…paving material increasingly involves a paving machine for distributing the aggregate, asphalt, or concrete uniformly and to the required thickness, shape, and width (typically, one or two traffic lanes). The paving machine can slipform the edges of the course, thus avoiding the need for fixed side-forms. As it progresses down…
Read More