Avello Asphalt & Construction Expand Access To Pavement Maintenance In Ulster NY

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that businesses maintain their parking lots in order to clearly label handicapped parking spaces and ensure accessibility for those with limited mobility. However, according to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, very few businesses are in full compliance with these guidelines, either due to lack of enforcement or lack of awareness.

The consequences of this, as New York contractor Avello Asphalt and Construction explain, can be widespread for the business and for those living with disability. Failure to meet ADA compliance guidelines can impact a business’ image and even lead to safety concerns, particularly during times of inclement weather.

According to the Avello team, line striping is among the fastest and most inexpensive ways to ensure compliance in the short term; for example, handicap spaces must be clearly marked both in the space and on accompanying signage, with striped loading zones measuring 60” in width at minimum.

ADA compliance goes beyond striping, however. To accommodate wheelchair users, a compliant lot must not slope more than 1.5 degrees in any direction. This, Avello suggests, is the area where most businesses fail to comply, though the reasons behind this widespread failure go beyond mere negligence.

In reality, parking lot maintenance is becoming both more necessary and more difficult due to climate-related factors. The Yale Environment Review recently reported that asphalt surfaces, given their sprawling, impermeable nature, are highly susceptible to weather-related and heat-related damage. Black asphalt is, they explain, a heat sink, and given the steady rise in global temperatures, parking lots are likely to become more susceptible to buckling and warping in the summer months, and freeze-thaw fissure damage in the winter.

Avello Asphalt and Construction is one of many companies to have taken up initiatives to combat this trend. Many companies are now using asphalt containing a high percentage of recycled materials, sustainability group Envirocomp explains, as well as asphalt solutions containing eco-friendly, non-petroleum binders.

Overall, for businesses interested in ADA compliance and overall professionalism, Avello recommends a full resurfacing to address grading and water retention issues every 5 years, and re-striping every 1-2 years. These measures ensure that weather-related damage does not compound, that safety of patrons is assured, and that all compliance standards are met.

Company: Avello Asphalt & Construction Corp City: Poughkeepsie Address: 141 Daley Road Website: https://www.avelloasphalt.com