Equipment World‘s Better Roads Online Magazine recently reported on concrete overlay use by the U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOTs) and Municipalities. Today’s roadbuilding environment requires more results from fewer resources, so extending pavement life is critical. One way to do this is with concrete overlays. Conventional thinking has concrete overlays most suited for high volume, heavy truckload pavements, such as intersections and interchanges. DOTs are increasingly adopting concrete overlays for intersection projects—primarily because the projects are relatively small and the results come quickly.
According to American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) figures, concrete overlays have been used for more than 100 years, with more than 1,100 projects completed between 1901 and 2012. Projects have been completed in 45 states, and overlays make up 14% of the concrete paving market. In some regions of the country, overlays represent more than 50% of the concrete pavements being placed.
Leif Wathne, ACPA Vice President, ISCP Board Member, and 11th ICCP Chair, stated that the growing concrete overlay adoption rate can be attributed to two factors: 1. A push, began about a decade ago, by the association and its state chapters to educate transportation agencies about the efficacy of concrete overlays as a resurfacing option. 2. Price parity relative to other resurfacing options.
“We developed design methodologies and guide specifications, all aimed at helping people become comfortable with concrete overlays and honestly, dispel some of the myths, such as ‘nobody has used it’,” Wathne says. The specifications include the “Guide Specifications for Concrete Overlays” published September 2015 by the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center (CPTech Center) at Iowa State University’s Institute for Transportation. The 32-page document offers guidance for developing specifications to meet the needs of overlay projects and covers details including the type of overlay to be used—bonded and unbonded—and the conditions in which they can be applied (click on image below).
Wathne says the concrete pavement industry’s advocacy efforts in part were an attempt to neutralize concerns about using concrete overlays, and highlighting the success of past projects. “The FHWA has had an overlay implementation program that’s been helpful as well, so we’re all kind of “singing off the same sheet of music” in talking about the opportunities with concrete pavements,” Wathne adds.
COMPETITION AND PRICE PARITY: Wathne said, “We want agencies to be aware that there’s another solution out there. Even if the benefits of these solutions are identical, just having a competing industry adds pressure to the industries to be more mindful of cost effectiveness.” He also stated that many municipalities look at their state DOTs to make the first move in adopting new specifications and guidelines as well as materials.
CONCRETE PAVEMENT GROWTH: Wathne said concrete pavers are recognizing that overlays are a huge market opportunity and represent the future of concrete, and overlays have matured in several markets across the country. He said, “The vast majority of the network has been built, so we recognize that one of the more cost efficient ways, short of reconstructing, is using concrete overlays. Overlays have provided an alternative to other resurfacing options. The biggest challenge to overlays is getting the word out that it is an option for resurfacing and that concrete doesn’t have to only be used for full replacement.”
For regional and state U.S. project details, ACPA Overlay Award Winners, and to read the entire article titled “Concrete overlays: Price parity and growing DOT/municipality use lead industry”, please go to: http://www.equipmentworld.com/concrete-overlays-price-parity-and-growing-dotmunicipality-use-lead-industry/.