At the 2025 World of Concrete event, the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) underscored the need for state highway agencies to optimize resource use amidst funding constraints tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act, writes Concrete Products. ACPA aims to advocate for continued transportation infrastructure funding, support agencies in maximizing available funds, and strengthen industry partnerships to advance the sustainability profile of concrete pavement. These efforts are expected to deliver economic, environmental, and social benefits, reinforcing concrete’s role in long-term infrastructure resilience.
ACPA CEO Laura O’Neill Kaumo highlighted the modest 2.7 percent growth in the concrete highway market, with expectations for a potential 4-5 percent increase in 2025. However, with the IIJA set to expire in 2026, Kaumo urged Congress to prioritize infrastructure investment while encouraging state agencies to develop strategic funding plans. She emphasized that a collective approach could enhance national infrastructure, prioritize safety and resilience, and foster industry growth in the coming years.
The ACPA’s 2025 initiatives include support for departments of transportation (DOTs) in increasing competition within pavement bidding to lower material costs, with a focus on inter-industry competition. Additionally, the organization will continue investing in research demonstrating the resilience of rigid concrete pavements, particularly in disaster recovery scenarios. Concrete pavements have shown superior structural integrity in extreme weather conditions, making them a vital component of sustainable infrastructure planning.
Further efforts include expanding the RC3 industry consortium’s support for state highway agencies, particularly in accessing federal funding and enhancing sustainability practices. ACPA is also collaborating with the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub to refine its pavement life-cycle assessment tool. This tool, according to ACPA Senior Director of Technical Services Eric Ferrebee, simplifies environmental impact assessments while maintaining scientific accuracy. In 2025, the tool will integrate life-cycle cost analysis to better capture the economic sustainability of concrete pavement systems.
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