Ground, water and winter in Manchester
Upland soils across St. Louis County formed mostly in loess, with cherty limestone residuum to the south and southwest. The county soil survey says local streets on many of them need adequate base plus ditches and culverts to prevent damage from low strength and frost action. Freeze-thaw winters make drainage the first decision.
A cheap bid usually gets cheap somewhere you cannot see. Ask what depth of stone goes down, how thick the asphalt is after rolling, and who fixes it if water still stands.
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 Manchester estimate is sized to the soil, the traffic and the drainage on your property.