What is a benefit of using asphalt in highway construction?

Choosing asphalt for highway construction offers a variety of advantages, and providing a smoother driving surface is particularly noteworthy. Asphalt is designed to create a flexible and resilient pavement that absorbs traffic stress and impacts, which helps to minimize surface irregularities. This characteristic contributes to a safer and more comfortable driving experience, as vehicles can travel more efficiently with less vibration and noise.

Furthermore, asphalt can be engineered to enhance its smoothness during installation, and techniques like using high-quality aggregates and proper compaction procedures can further improve the final surface quality. This smoothness not only enhances driver safety but can also reduce vehicle wear and fuel consumption, thus providing long-term economic benefits.

The other choices, while they might present certain advantages and considerations in different contexts, do not singularly capture the key benefit of asphalt in highway construction as effectively as its capacity to provide a smoother driving surface.