Lignin　is　the　second-largest　plant　polymer　on　Earth　after　cellulose.　About　98%　of　lignin　produced　in　the　papermaking　and　pulping　industry　is　used　for　combustion　heating　or　power　generation.　Less　than　2%　of　lignin　is　used　in　more　valuable　fields,　mainly　in　the　formulation　of　dispersants,　adhesives,　and　surfactants.　Asphalt　is　one　of　the　most　important　materials　in　pavement　engineering.　It　is　a　dark　brown　complex　mixture　composed　of　hydrocarbons　with　different　molecular　weights　and　their　non-metallic　derivatives.　Because　the　chemical　structure　of　lignin　is　similar　to　that　of　asphalt,　it　is　a　carbon-based　hydrocarbon　material.　More　researchers　studied　the　application　of　lignin　in　pavement　engineering.　In　this　paper,　the　structure,　application,　and　extraction　technology　of　lignin　were　summarized.　This　is　a　review　article　describing　the　different　applications　of　lignin　in　pavement　engineering　and　exploring　the　prospects　of　the　application.　There　are　three　main　types　of　pavement　materials　that　can　be　used　for　lignin　in　pavement　engineering,　which　are　asphalt,　asphalt　mixture,　and　roadbed　soil.　In　asphalt,　lignin　can　be　used　as　a　modifier,　extender,　emulsifier,　antioxidant,　and　coupling　agent.　In　asphalt　mixtures,　lignin　can　be　used　as　an　additive.　In　road　base　soils,　lignin　can　be　used　as　a　soil　stabilizer.　Furthermore,　the　article　analyzed　the　application　effects　of　lignin　from　the　life　cycle　assessment.　The　conclusions　suggest　that　lignin-modified　asphalt　exhibits　more　viscosity　and　hardness,　and　its　high-temperature　resistance　and　rutting　resistance　can　be　significantly　improved　compared　with　conventional　asphalt.　In　addition,　some　lignin-modified　asphalt　binders　exhibit　reduced　low-temperature　crack　resistance　and　fatigue　resistance,　which　can　be　adjusted　and　selected　according　to　the　climate　change　in　different　regions.　The　performance　of　lignin　as　an　asphalt　mixture　additive　and　asphalt　extender　has　been　proved　to　be　feasible.　Lignin　can　also　produce　good　mechanical　properties　as　well　as　environmental　benefits　as　a　soil　stabilizer.　In　summary,　lignin　plays　an　important　role　in　asphalt　pavement　and　roadbed　soil,　and　it　is　likely　to　be　a　development　trend　in　the　future　due　to　its　environmental　friendliness　and　low　cost.　More　research　is　needed　to　generalize　the　application　of　lignin　in　pavement　engineering.