The term ROADWORK GOOP is a combination of two words, 'roadwork' and 'GOOP'. Roadwork is a type of construction or repair work done on roads, such as paving, resurfacing, or widening. GOOP is a slang term for a sticky, slimy substance. Together, ROADWORK GOOP refers to a type of asphalt-based material used in road construction and repair. The three-letter solution for this term is TAR, which is short for TAR-based asphalt, a type of asphalt commonly used in roadwork.