What is a black resinous substance laid on a road surface called?

swish, I also live in Canada and the joke about the seasons that I heard was; the four seasons in Canada are; Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Road Construction.

another famous invention by a scotsman McAdam

Lots of neighborhood roads have asphalt

mackerounski, tarmac = (bituminous) tar + macadam. But didn't so much invent it as improved and made it popular.

Davy, Livingston, sadly local councils refuse to invest in proper services.