When cities repave roads, why do they leave the street ripped up for a couple weeks before repaving?

Question

I was told once it’s because cities project the job to take say 5 weeks, so they rip it up the first week, leave it for 3 weeks, then repave the last week. And they do this so everyone gets a paycheck for the full 5 weeks. Surely there has to be a different reason?

In: Other

Answer 1

Those who do the ripping up aren’t always the same workers who do the paving. Those who do the paving may be completing another job at the exact time a street becomes newly ripped up. It’s simply a matter of the timing. I’ve experienced what you’re describing, but never something as long as 3 weeks. Maybe 3 or 4 days before the pavers come in.