RCC Creates Solid Surfaces for Quarry

Roller-compacted concrete (RCC) was the answer when Rohrer’s Quarry in Litiz, Pa., needed to provide a paved surface to stockpile sand used for state department of transportation construction projects.

The placement of 180 yards of RCC at Rohrer’s involved the use of a traditional asphalt paving machine and a series of rollers. This method differs from other applications of RCC which rely on a high-density paver. A high-density machine applies pressure and vibration during the placement process producing a mat that is compacted between 95%-100%. The conventional paving machine produces a mat that is approximately 80% compacted, then relies on the rollers to achieve the desired compaction.

Seizing the opportunity to promote RCC, representatives from several local paving companies, as well as neighboring townships and PennDOT, were invited to observe the placement.

PCA Report:  Concrete Initial Bid Costs Pulls Even with Asphalt

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, a recent report from PCA points to how 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.

The report, “Update: Paving, The New Realities,” compares the cost for one  mile of standard two-lane roadway (concrete v. asphalt) calculated with estimating software used by state departments of transportation (DOTs). In the past, initial bid costs have long favored asphalt roads. Six years ago, asphalt held a $120,000 initial bid cost advantage versus a concrete-paved road.  Today that situation has reversed completely. Concrete now enjoys the initial bid advantage—to the tune of $82,000 in Fiscal Year 2009. PCA estimates that by 2015 concrete paved roads will enjoy a $500,000 initial bid cost advantage over asphalt–roughly a 41 percent savings.

PCA Chief Economist Ed Sullivan will share the findings of this report that analyzes the trends causing this unprecedented paradigm shift in a free Webcast, July 21, at 11 am CDT (see below).
Contact Ed Sullivan

Third PCA Infrastructure Webcast Scheduled

PCA will present the third in a series of infrastructure-related Webcasts, Paving’s New Realities 2009: Why Concrete’s Advantage vs. Asphalt Is Widening,”on July 21at 11 am CDT. There is no charge for this Webcast.

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. In this one-hour Webcast, Ed Sullivan, PCA chief economist, will share the findings of a recent PCA report (see above) that analyzes the trends causing this unprecedented paradigm shift.

A white paper on the topic will also be available for download.
To click here to register.

June PPI:  Prices See Little Change

Prices for steel, asphalt, lumber, and concrete saw little change from May to June, according to the Department of Labor’s monthly Producer Price Index (PPI).

Steel prices decreased for the tenth consecutive month, down a modest 0.7 percent, and asphalt prices were down 0.6 percent from the previous month.

Lumber prices saw a slight increase of 0.8 percent from May to June and concrete prices rose by 0.1 percent.

During the last year, steel prices have decreased 38.5 percent while asphalt and concrete prices have grown by 2.7 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. In the same time frame, lumber prices have declined by 15 percent.

Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. PCA provides this information to aid in the promotion of concrete and cement-based products.
Contact Ninab Maradkel
More information

Ash Grove Donates 80 Acres for State-of-the-Art Water Treatment Plant

Ash Grove Cement Company donated more than 80 acres of land to the City of Midlothian, Texas, for the new water treatment plant. The City of Midlothian will soon begin construction of the new six to nine million gallons per day water plant that will include a three-million gallon storage tank, high service pump station, transmission pipeline, office, and testing laboratory.

Leaders from the City of Midlothian joined with representatives from Ash Grove Cement Company last week to break ground for the plant's construction.

Midlothian’s new water treatment facility will augment and relieve pressure on Midlothian’s existing water treatment plant. Construction of the new facility is expected to be completed before the end of 2012.

City leaders attending the groundbreaking included Midlothian Mayor Boyce Whatley, City Manager Don Hastings, along with several members of the city council and Utility Advisory Board. Ash Grove Midlothian Plant Manager Kevin Blankenship and about 20 staff members from the nearby cement company also attended.

Registration Open for 2009 Fall Committee Meetings

Registration is now open for PCA's fall committee meetings, August 24-25, 2009 at the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago.

Most committees of PCA's Research and Technical Council and Market Promotion Council will meet, as well as committees of the Cement Association of Canada.
Register for the meeting online
Contact Michelle Nyquist

West Coast Technical Conference Scheduled

The IEEE West Coast Cement Industry Technical Conference is scheduled for October 8-9, 2009, in Victorville, Calif.

In addition to technical papers and workshops, the program includes a plant tour of CalPortland’s Mojave plant.  The Mojave plant recently converted 100 percent of their electricity requirements to wind generation.
More information and to register