Machine for a highway crew

PAVER

It lays the smooth black path you drive on every day.

A "paver" is a machine used by highway crews to lay asphalt or concrete smoothly on roads. The clue is straightforward—it describes the equipment’s purpose without wordplay or hidden meanings. If you’ve seen road construction, you’ve likely spotted one of these rolling along, flattening fresh pavement. The answer fits because it’s the exact term for that piece of heavy machinery.