Author Archives: Emma Dolan

ADA Webinar Series

Register for our ADA Webinar Series by clicking here – it’s a 2-part webinar on May 12 and 19 @ 11 am MDT.  Engineers are faced with ongoing planning, design, and construction challenges when it comes to following ADA guidelines. Whether you are with a DOT, county, city, consultant, or contractor there will be lots to learn on implementing your ADA program.

This ADA Webinar Series is offering Professional Development Hours (PDH’s).  Attendees will:

• Learn the requirements and importance of an ADA Transition Plan
• Learn the design and construction requirements detailed in PROWAG 2011
• See how these guidelines are being implemented in Wisconsin and Missouri

Sign up is required, and we have an improved two-step process to ensure proper processing for PDH’s.  Please click here to register.

Concrete is the universal building material – from pavements and bridges to buildings, water storage tanks, counter tops, and everything in between.  The manufacture and construction of building materials produces emissions, and concrete has recently been singled out.  The reality is that emissions from cement production make up less than 1.5% of the national total, and the concrete industry in the US has been actively working to reduce emissions for many years.

Note:  Cement emissions are included within the Industry category.

Major cement producers with plants in Colorado have reduced net emissions per ton of cementitious product by 21-25% since 1990 and are utilizing renewable energy sources for up to 26% of their power consumption.  In partnership with owners and specifiers, the concrete industry in Colorado is focused on providing an even higher quality product while reducing the impact on our environment.

Join our efforts in reducing emissions by following these recommendations:

Innovations

• Use portland limestone cement (PLC), which incorporates up to 15% finely ground limestone during production, to reduce clinker factor and corresponding carbon footprint.
• Optimize aggregate gradations to construct a more durable pavement with a reduced cement content and corresponding lower emissions impact.
• Introduce recycled CO₂ into new concrete through CO₂

Reducing & Recycling

• Eliminate minimum cement content and include performance specifications instead of prescriptive to specify properties related to increased durability.
• Replace 20% or more of the cement with fly ash to improve concrete quality and beneficially dispose of a waste product.
• Incorporate recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) into new concrete pavement to reduce mining, processing and transportation.

Longevity

• Build long lasting pavements to extend the time between recycling pavement and reduce construction emissions caused by frequent rehabilitation cycles.
• Diamond grind the surface of concrete pavement to restore smoothness and extend life without the need for additional raw materials.

For additional details about the concepts described and how they are being implemented in Colorado and around the country, please refer to the resources below or contact Angela Folkestad (afolkestad@pavement.com).

MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub:  cshub.mit.edu

National Concrete Pavement Technology Center:  cptechcenter.org

The Colorado/Wyoming Chapter of ACPA kicked off a busy spring on March 14^th at the Annual Concrete Pavement Workshop. We work closely with our sponsors, exhibitors and industry partners to present on educational and innovative changes happening across the nation and here in Colorado and Wyoming.

This year the workshop and ACPA staff faced an additional challenge with a once in a generation “Bomb Cyclone” blizzard. As the storm approached, calls started coming in from speakers, who said their flight plans (including double- and triple-booked alternative flights) were being canceled.  Eventually, all but two out-of-state participants were grounded at home or at intermediate connection points. With the help of ACPA National staff, the out of state speakers were able to remote in and give virtual presentations.

The CO/WY ACPA staff are grateful for the flexibility of all the speakers in working through the schedule and format changes and for the persistence of workshop sponsors and exhibitors and all those who braved the storm to attend and make the 2019 Concrete Pavement Workshop a snowy success!

Concrete Day at the Capitol

On Tuesday, April 23, the CO/WY Chapter of ACPA was pleased to again partner with the Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association (CRMCA) and the Colorado Chapter of the American Concrete Pipe Association (ACPA) to host the 2019 Concrete Day at the Capitol.

The event took place on the southeast lawn of the Colorado State Capitol. Governor Jared Polis was in attendance to address the crowd of legislators, staff and members of the concrete industry. The message from the Governor focused on the recently signed budget allocating $300 million to transportation funding and to thank legislative staff for all their hard work during the 2019 session.

While the industry is excited to be taking steps toward funding, it is important we look ahead toward more long term, sustainable funding options as well. For more information on transportation funding be sure to follow the CO/WY ACPA on twitter (@cowyacpa) and Facebook (CO/WY Chapter – ACPA) as we promote the #FundTheFix social media campaign to raise public awareness and continue the conversation on funding Colorado’s transportation needs.

Thanks to all our members who came out to celebrate Concrete Day in Colorado!