SKOKIE, Ill.— Department of transportation (DOT) staff in more than 50 percent of the states expect concrete’s share of paving to increase during the next five years, according to a recent market research survey by the Portland Cement Association (PCA).

Respondents cited concrete’s life-cycle cost advantages and lower maintenance levels are reasons to expect an increase in its use.  Fifty-four percent of states considered life-cycle cost an important driver.  Additionally, concrete pavements were lauded for their performance on high traffic roadways, with 30 percent of respondents citing it as the reason they select concrete over asphalt for paving state roadways.

“After lifecycle and performance, concrete’s initial cost was an important factor,” Wayne Adaska, PCA’s director of pavements. “For example, the number of DOTs that consider concrete to have a higher initial cost than asphalt decreased by 22 percent compared to a similar survey conducted in 2005.”

The survey also measured the impact of sustainability or “green” issues on pavement choice.  While the majority of respondents considered sustainability to have only a minor impact on material selection, 50 percent of state DOTs anticipate the influence of sustainable development on pavement material selection to grow within the next five years.  Concrete’s durability and recyclability will make it an attractive material when considering sustainability, according to survey respondents.

The survey was completed in 2008 by employees from all 50 state DOTs to gain an understanding of their current opinions, attitudes, insides and direction relative to the use of concrete and cement-based systems in pavement.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.

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