During the 2024 World of Concrete show, the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) announced a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the sustainability of roads and buildings writes Merina Shirver for ForConstructionPros.com. The ACPA unveiled its comprehensive strategy to assist Departments of Transportation (DOTs), owners, and decision-makers in navigating challenges such as inflation and evolving federal funding structures. This initiative builds on the association’s 2023 white paper, “Concrete Pavement’s Role in a Sustainable, Resilient Future,” by offering new tools and resources to promote sustainable and cost-effective infrastructure.
The ACPA’s focus for 2024 will include helping infrastructure owners and agencies meet funding criteria while achieving long-lasting and resilient projects. Emphasizing the importance of understanding how pavement material choices impact funding opportunities, the ACPA aims to guide decision-makers beyond initial costs to consider the benefits of sustainable pavements. This approach aligns with federal objectives and ensures the longevity and resilience of infrastructure investments.
At the World of Concrete, the ACPA launched several key initiatives, including the release of a report titled, “How Agencies can Reduce Costs by Improving the Competitiveness of their Bid Environments.” This report, featuring research from the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), highlights the cost-saving benefits of increasing competition between concrete and asphalt paving industries. The findings suggest that states with higher concrete market shares can significantly reduce paving material costs, thus offering a compelling case for competitive paving programs.
Additionally, the ACPA announced its participation in the Reduced-Carbon Concrete Consortium (RC3), which aims to provide funding information, facilitate application submissions, and enhance contractor preparedness with critical next steps such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). The press conference also featured the International Grooving & Grinding Association’s (IGGA) white paper on diamond grinding, a sustainable and cost-effective pavement preservation method. According to Nick Davis, IGGA’s director of technical services, diamond grinding presents a viable solution to meet infrastructure and sustainability needs. Laura O’Neill Kaumo, president and CEO of ACPA, emphasized the importance of choosing the right paving materials and maintaining them properly to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience in infrastructure projects.