Foothill country
Placitas sits east of Bernalillo along NM-165, climbing into the northern foothills of the Sandias. Homes are spread out on large lots, many reached by long driveways or shared private roads that wind over ridges and across arroyos. The views are worth it; the roads take work. Slopes speed up runoff, and every monsoon season some gravel driveway in Placitas loses a chunk to the next arroyo.
What works on slopes
- Control the water first. We find where runoff comes from and give it a planned path off the driveway — swales, rundowns, culverts and rock at outlets.
- Asphalt on the steep parts. Hot-mix holds on grades where gravel and millings wash out.
- Chip seal on gentler runs. A sealed stone surface for long, flatter stretches at a lower cost.
- Strong edges. Edges on slopes get extra compaction and shoulder support.
- Room at the top. A flat parking pad or turnaround is often the most useful part of the project.
Shared roads
Many Placitas roads are private and shared by several homes. We price the full road and break it out by section or lot so neighbors can split it, and phase the work across seasons if needed. See private road paving.
More detail on our Placitas driveway paving page.
What we do in Placitas
- New asphalt driveways and dirt or gravel conversions
- RV pads and side-yard parking
- Overlays and resurfacing for worn asphalt
- Sealcoating and crack sealing
- Pothole and asphalt repair
- Private and HOA roads, chip seal and millings
- Parking lots and commercial paving
Common questions
Can you pave a steep driveway?
Yes. Steep drives need careful compaction, strong edges and good drainage, and asphalt is usually the right surface on the steepest sections.
Our shared road washes out every summer. Can you fix it?
Usually — by reshaping it with a crown and ditches, adding culverts where it crosses drainage, and surfacing it with chip seal or asphalt.
Do you work all over Placitas?
Yes, including the village area and the subdivisions off NM-165.