| |
Quick And Direct Information |
|
|
| |
|
It’s an all-too familiar story for all too many of the traveling public. Needing a way to make limited dollars go farther, many state and local agencies turn to substandard designs and materials that cost less to install, but cost more to own in the long run.
The great news is that the best pavement materials used to cost more, but that cost gap has narrowed in recent years. Asphalt was rarely cheaper than concrete pavement in the long term. Now, because of the rise of oil prices, the initial cost of an asphalt pavement is often higher than a much longer-lasting concrete pavement.
America’s roadways are getting more congested and crumbling because there has not been enough funding to expand and maintain the system to meet current demands.
State and local agencies are spending dollars and time just trying to keep up with maintenance and repairs.
And, because of the inflation in the cost of materials (particularly asphalt) many agencies are reporting they’re able to do even less repair and maintenance than before.
The secret to managing road construction and rehabilitation costs can be found with an economic analysis tool known as life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA). LCCA is useful to compare the true costs of pavement, not just the initial costs, but the ownership costs over the life of different alternatives.
Concrete pavements have historically provided the best value over time, because they require far less maintenance and fewerrepairs than other pavements. Now, with the unpredictable cost of oil, both the initial cost and the cost over time for a concrete roadway are lower than for most any comparable pavement.
Perhaps the roadways you rely on most will be among the many examples of concrete pavements that are still carrying people where they need to be … for 30, 40, and even 50 years!
Printer-Friendly Information: |
|
Tel. 847.966.2272