Recent improvements in design and construction have made today's concrete roads smoother and quieter than ever. Financially, life cycle cost studies have demonstrated that concrete pavements often provide the most cost-effective approach to new construction or rehabilitation of roadways. In a study by the National Research Council of Canada, concrete pavements were shown to significantly reduce vehicle fuel consumption, adding environmental advantages to the benefits of rigid pavements. In spite of these advancements, less than 1% of the primary and secondary highways in Western Canada consists of concrete pavements. Historically, concrete pavements have not been considered for most roads primarily because of limited construction and product experience, perceived economics, and limited public input into the choosing of pavement materials. Innovations in concrete pavement technology, and new economic studies, including the growing importance of user costs, have mitigated many of the constraints to market share of rigid pavements. Consequently, a program was recently developed to inform and educate the transportation industry, politicians, and the public, on new developments in concrete paving, and to provide them with up to date tools by which they can fairly evaluate paving options. To effectively disseminate this information, efforts were undertaken to foster partnerships with key organisations and individuals involved in transportation. Helping new partners understand their paving options allowed them to build the internal capability needed to assess concrete pavement as a viable paving alternative. In turn, this information could be conveyed to their general membership. Fundamental to this relationship building was the acceptance that no single paving option is suitable for all applications. What is important is that infrastructure owners have the latest and most accurate information on which to make paving decisions. In taking a solutions approach to relationship building a level of credibility and trust was established, which is a key element of sustaining valuable working relationships. The need to effectively manage transportation expenditures has never been more crucial as our roadways become more congested, and given the impact an efficient roadway system has on the nation's economy. The partnerships we are developing are still evolving. In one year, we have significantly raised the profile of concrete roadways as a viable pavement solution. We are confident that through our partnership work the transportation industry will benefit as engineers and contractors effectively evaluate, design and construct the most appropriate pavement for their infrastructure requirements. (Author/publisher)
Abstract