In the Mix: A Message from President & CEO Laura O’Neill Kaumo Advocacy is in the air this Spring – and before you conflate advocacy for the concrete paving industry with American politics, pause to think about what advocacy for the paving industry means. It means making the connection of concrete paving to sustainability, resiliency and healthy competition objectives. It also means being a part of the relevant conversations and promoting concrete paving to decisionmakers because they help achieve these important societal goals. ACPA is advocating for increased concrete paving market share in three major ways this Spring and you matter in the equation. First, ACPA has formed the Reduced Carbon Concrete Consortium (RC3) alongside the CP Tech Center and a number of qualified paving engineers to advance opportunities and information in reduced carbon concrete. Since the FHWA announcement on March 12 on $2B Low Carbon Transportation Materials (LCTM) grants, RC3 has been in communication with dozens of DOTs across the country advocating for them to pursue the grants and help reframe business as usual decision making. These grants offer the opportunity to put forward bold and transformational ideas to try to advance a low-carbon agenda. DOTs have until June 10, 2024 to submit an application. The next round of applications is expected in May for other LCTM qualifying entities. See the RC3 website for the most recent information and reach out to qualifying entities encouraging them to apply. Contractors, there is more information on Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) on the RC3 website, as well. Be sure to sign-up for our distribution list to receive regular communications. Second, have you registered for ACPA’s Mid-year Meeting in Kansas City, MO? Our focus on smoothness will include an introduction to its importance, optimizing mixtures and the process, equipment types for smoothness, discussions on longevity and much more. Further, conversations will be had on the cement industry’s engagement with the Environmental Protection Agency and if threats of regulation are impacting cement mixtures and specifications. We will also advocate and interface with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), providing feedback on the LCTM program and EPDs. You can be a part of all of this by registering today, while the room block is still open, and help keep it smooth in Kansas City in June. Lastly, ACPA’s Board of Directors and ACPA’s Chapter State Executives are travelling from around the country to advocate for concrete paving interests before Congress and the agencies in Washington, DC May 14 -16. As part of the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) led by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), ACPA members and staff will advocate for continued infrastructure investment as inflation has had significant implications on the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), redistribution impacts and continued support for the CP Tech Center funding. This spring, ACPA is well out in front of the issues impacting our industry and we invite you to come along for the conversations. If you’re not at the table, then you’re on the menu. Let’s fight for our share and our future! Cheers! Laura

On the Grade

ACPA Exhibits at the National Association for County Engineers (NACE) in Palm Springs ACPA and IGGA exhibited April 16-17 at NACE. The event was held in Palm Springs, CA and was attended by more than 700 people. Attendees from our concrete paving industry included ACPA’s Director of Pavement Innovation Larry Scofield, P.E.; Nick Davis, P.E., Director of the Concrete Pavement Preservation Partnership for ACPA and Director of Technical Services for IGGA; and Kelsey Carriere, the Director of Marketing for ACPA. Also in attendance were Charles Stuart, the Executive Director of the Southwest Chapter of ACPA; Greg Mulder, P.E., the Executive Director of the Iowa Concrete Paving Association; and Andy Loonan, the County Programs Director of the Iowa Concrete Pavement Association. A raffle was held, which allowed ACPA to collect contacts to further our promotional efforts.

First Implementation of Narrow Filled Joint Sealant Installation While attending the NACE conference in Palm Springs, CA, Larry Scofield, P.E., ACPA’s Director of Pavement Innovation, and Charles Stuart, the Executive Director of the Southwest Concrete Pavement Association, visited an ongoing construction project by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) located on I-10. This project is Caltrans’ first implementation of a narrow filled joint sealant installation. In addition to the narrow joint design, this project used ASTM Type IV sealant in a desert environment to fill the joint. “Fortunately, we are part of a collaborative team, led by the Caltrans Office of Concrete Pavements, who clearly see the ride-quality improvements and the cost-savings related to these thin, filled joints,” said Stuart. “We were told it was unbuildable, that it could not be done, but here we are today looking at thousands of miles of filled joints.” They also visited a 25-year-old bonded concrete overlay on an asphalt pavement parking lot that, despite being 25 years old, is still in good condition. The municipal parking lot clearly demonstrates the value and longevity of the bonded concrete overlay approach. Figure 1 showcases the sealant installation project, while Figure 2 has a photo of the parking area.

Concrete Pavement’s Role in a Sustainable, Resilient Future Wins Award The ACPA marketing campaign, “Concrete Pavement’s Role in a Sustainable, Resilient Future,” won a platinum Hermes Creative Award in the category “Strategic Integrated Marketing Campaigns.” The campaign was executed in 2023 by ACPA’s marketing consultant AOE. Its foundation was the white paper, “Concrete Pavement’s Role in a Sustainable, Resilient Future,“ announced last year at World of Concrete. The launch captured more than 15 headlines across industry news channels. Follow-up coverage included a media interview between Roads & Bridges and Steve Friess, six trade press articles, and a video series. Check it out today.

A Message from ACPA’s Chairman, Ernie Peterson Take a moment to watch this video of Ernie Peterson, ACPA’s Chairman and the Vice President of Sales for Ash Grove Cement, providing an overview of ACPA’s 2024 Mid-year Meeting agenda. There will be workshops featuring expert perspectives on topics like Life Cycle Cost Analysis, sustainability and FHWA funding, alongside updates on ACPA’s Reduced Carbon Concrete Consortium (RC3) and more. There will also be opportunities to network with other ACPA members and see what ACPA is doing for the industry. Secure your accommodations through our exclusive room block and read the program of events here.

ACPA’s Eric Ferrebee, P.E., Presents on Concrete Roundabouts The Missouri University of Science and Technology hosted the Annual Missouri Concrete Conference from April 23-24 in Rolla, MO. The conference regularly highlights new and emerging technologies such as AI and innovative curing research, as well as current efforts underway with the Missouri DOT. ACPA’s Senior Director of Technical Services Eric Ferrebee, P.E., delivered a presentation on the “Design and Construction of Concrete Roundabouts.” The Missouri/Kansas Chapter of ACPA helped plan and moderate the day and a half conference. Larry Scofield, P.E., Speaks for Texas A&M Engineering Students ACPA’s Director of Pavement Innovation Larry Scofield, P.E., guest lectured virtually at Texas A&M University on April 18. ACPA Board Member Dan Zollinger, PhD., of Texas A&M University, offers a guest lecture series format in his engineering classes. Scofield discussed “Developments and Practical Information About Pavement Texture and Friction.” Jim Mack, Director of Market Development of Cemex and ACPA member, was the previous guest lecturer.

This week’s issue of ACPA TODAY is presented by CEMEX, an ACPA 2023/2024 Gold Sponsor.