Asphalt Plants in Illinois

This directory lists 136 hot mix asphalt plant locations in Illinois, across 59 counties, with the most around Chicago, Belvidere, Rock Island, Chicago Ridge. Most come from federal air-permit registrations, which record that a plant is permitted rather than that it is operating or selling today, so treat the count as a starting list. None has been checked with its operator yet.

Some do and some do not. Many plants are owned by a paving contractor or a materials group and run mainly to supply that company's own crews, and whether a plant will load an outside contractor's trucks is not in any public record. Call the plant, say what mix and tonnage you need, and ask whether they sell to outside contractors and on what terms before you plan around it.

There is no fixed limit: it depends on the weather, the load size, tarping and how fast the crew places the mix. As a planning figure most contractors treat about an hour of drive time as comfortable and manage the risk carefully beyond about 90 minutes, and your specification and supplier are the authority. Straight-line distance understates the drive, often by a third or more, so check the route.

Most plants here cut back or stop making hot mix in the cold months, because the mix cannot be placed and compacted properly in freezing weather. Expect the season to wind down in late fall and start again in spring, but each plant sets its own dates and they move with the weather every year. Call the plant before you plan work near either end of the season.

Public work in the state usually requires the producer or the mix design to be approved by Illinois Department of Transportation. Ask the plant for its current status and confirm it with the agency before you bid. Private work does not normally require approval unless the contract calls for it.