Quarter 4, 2017

Concrete Pavement Progress www.acpa.org 4 Bill Davenport American Concrete Pavement Association bdavenport@acpa.org  | 847.423.8703 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Whether we look forward to our birthdays with delight or dismay, it is hard not to smile when we hear the two words that convey birthday wishes and cheer. What does a birthday celebration have to do with concrete pavements? ACPA Chair- person Lori Tiefenthaler (Lehigh Hanson, Inc.) recently wrote that when we look at concrete pavements, we can often find back stories that can be quite extraordinary. The idea for celebrating concrete pavements was inspired by Ed Denton, President of Denton Enterprises, Inc., and 1969 Chair of the ACPA Board, who said that by telling our stories, we can provide a valuable perspective on time and create interest in concrete pavements and our industry. “Construction open houses and celebrations are a great way to set the stage for story telling about pavements that have exceeded their 20-year design lives or otherwise demonstrated excellence,” Tiefenthaler said, adding, “Getting back to basics with something as simple as a ‘birthday party,’ can provide a catalyst to sharing a great story.” In doing so, “We can show the public how concrete pavements form the backbone of American infrastructure, and in doing so, improve our quality of life,” Tiefenthaler said. “Equally important, these stories send a strong signal that we stand ready to renew the highways, airports, and roadways that keep America strong.” In past issues, we’ve told stories about the first concrete street in Bellefontaine, Ohio, as well as Texas’ oldest concrete street, which was placed in 1914 in San Antonio.There are more stories to come, and we are actively seeking outstanding and exceptional projects to celebrate in your area. They do not have to be a century old or older—they just have to have a story that demonstrates excellent quality, longevity, or triumph over the forces of nature and time. Please let us hear from you by sending an email to GreatStories@acpa.org . In this issue, we are happy to announce some the 2017 ACPA “Excellence in Con- crete Pavements” award recipients. These projects also worthy of celebration, and the celebration will take place on Thursday, November 28, as we reveal the “Gold” and “Silver” award recipients at ACPA’s 54th Annual Meeting. Because the award designations are under wraps for now, we have included a short story, but will be covering these projects in detail in 2018. Bus tours and other opportunities to “walk the grade” are excellent ways to see new construction (as well as reconstruction and preservation projects), as well as existing pavements, all with an eye of making a good pavements better, transferring technol- ogy, and viewing best practices first-hand. In this issue of Concrete Pavement Progress , we describe two such opportunities in Missouri and Pennsylvania. We are also pleased to present a story about the use of how the North Carolina DOT used a geotextile fabric to save close to $556,000 in construction costs! These stories typify the reason why there’s reason for celebration. Is it time to celebrate a project in your area? A Time for Celebration