October 2009 issue now available!

Why Concrete’s Advantage vs. Asphalt Is Widening

With the U.S. poised to invest heavily in roads and highways and
as legislation designed to expand major infrastructure projects looms
on the horizon, concrete is fast emerging as not only the more cost-
effective long-term solution for road construction, but also a
far less-expensive initial investment.

Download PCA's Special Report

Download PCA's Economic Report: Update: Paving, The New Realities

Click here for additional information on PCA's website

CPAM Celebrates 50^th Anniversary

at the 48^th Annual

Concrete Paving Workshop
 

March 19 - 20, 2009

Radisson Plaza Hotel, Rochester, MN
 

Articles & Photos

Workshop Program

Lessons Learned From Mn/ROAD

(1992-2006)  -  FINAL REPORT

Mark B. Snyder, Consultant
10/15/2008

Read Full Report

 

Check out bulletproof pavements!

According to TERRA, "the typical recommended minimum standard 6-inch concrete pavement has performed so well on the MnROAD LVR and other Minnesota low-volume roads that it is often referred to as a 'bulletproof' pavement for more heavily loaded applications."

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Think Green…Think Concrete
 

Concern over global warming and a host of environmental issues has many of us thinking “green,” looking for ways to reduce pollution and protect the environment.   If you’re an environmental steward thinking green, think concrete.

According to a recent article entitled “Concrete & Climate Change” published in the Summer 2008 issue of Concrete InFocus by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, concrete compares favorably to other building materials when analyzing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, one of several greenhouse gases that can cause global warming.  And when it comes to paving materials, concrete is decidedly green.  Studies conducted by National Resources Council of Canada which compared fuel consumption and emissions for a 62 mile section of a major arterial highway, one paved with concrete and the other with asphalt, concluded that heavy trucks traveling on concrete pavement realized significant fuel savings ranging from 0.8% to 6.9%.  “These fuel savings lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.”   Another study conducted by Athena Institute analyzed concrete and asphalt roadways to compare embodied energy and global warming potential for construction and maintenance over a 50-year life cycle.  “The study concluded that for a high volume highway, the asphalt pavement alternative required three times more energy than their concrete counterparts from a life cycle perspective.”   For more detail, read the entire article at http://www.nrmca.org/research/CIF-Summer-08-Climate.pdf.

The American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) released a special report in October 2007 entitled, “Green Highways – Environmentally and Economically Sustainable Concrete Pavements,” Publication SR385P.   The report begins by noting that, according to the 2005 EPA Green Highways Initiative, “green highways” are “those that are environmentally responsible and sustainable in all aspects, including design, construction, and maintenance.”   ACPA’s special report details the many benefits of concrete paving and concludes, in part:  

Concrete pavement has long been considered an environmentally and economically sustainable pavement choice for its longevity.  This hallmark of concrete pavements ensures that the desirable performance characteristics of the pavement remain essentially intact for several decades.

In addition, long-lasting concrete pavements do not require rehabilitation or reconstruction as often and, therefore, consume fewer raw materials over time.  Energy savings also are realized, since rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts consume energy.  Even more importantly, congestion is reduced by using long-lasting concrete pavements because of less frequent construction zones that impede traffic flow.  Ultimately, all of these benefits add up to greater long-term economic and social benefits to the public.

Many other features of concrete pavements were also noted which contribute to making concrete pavements an environmentally sensitive pavement choice.   Make a “green choice” today and check out the entire article on ACPA’s website Pavements4Life or via the following link:  http://www.pavements4life.com/QDs/SR385P.pdf.

See the results of the tour of Iowa concrete overlays!

Iowa Overlay Tour - November 8, 2007