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There are several misconceptions about concrete pavements which often offer the most favourable solution when whole-life road-building costs are considered, according to Bryan Perrie, CEO of Cement & Concrete South Africa (CCSA). THE FACTS SHOW CONCRETE PAVEMENTS HAVE COME A LONG WAY
P errie says apart from the fact that concrete pavements are beneficial to the environment, there are also misunderstandings about speed of construction and riding comfort, to name just some of the qualities of modern concrete pavements. “In the first instance, the environmental benefits include long service life: concrete pavements generally last for over 30 years. In addition, they require relatively little maintenance and repair, resulting in long-term savings in raw materials, transport and energy. The reduction in traffic disruption and delays caused by roadworks also cuts fuel consumption and exhaust gas
emissions,” Perrie states. “Other aspects to consider include reduced fuel consumption, recyclability, and new air-purifying construction materials and methods, as well as life-time costing, as stated. Road-user delay costs - which can be astronomical - also are often not included in life-cycle costing. “When it comes to speed of construction, the curing time of concrete is far from the 28-day period that is sometimes incorrectly suggested. A new concrete pavement, made from conventional concrete can be opened to traffic after only four to seven days of curing. High early strength concrete mixes make it possible to
34 CONSTRUCTION WORLD JUNE 2022
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