Why the base matters in Jerseyville
The upland here is deep windblown silt over rock, running thicker toward the river bluffs to the west. Silt holds water, and water under pavement freezes and lifts it. We grade for runoff before anything else, remove soft material and compact the base in layers so frost has less to act on.
Bids are only comparable when they spell out the same things: base depth, compacted thickness, how edges are finished, and where water is meant to go. Ask for those before you pick a number.
Compacted asphaltTypically 2 to 3 in. for a car drive
Stone baseTypically 4 to 8 in., compacted
Drive on itUsually 2 to 3 days, longer in heat
First sealcoatTypically 6 to 12 months after paving
Typical ranges. Your Jerseyville estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.