Essence of much road work (3)

I believe the answer is:

tar

(Other definitions for tar that I've seen before include "Slang sailor or road surfacing material" , "Informal sailor or road-surfacing material" , "Sticky stuff for a kind of sailor" , "It may cover the road" , "Cigarette residue - old word for sailor" .)

I've seen this clue in the Newsday.

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