APA Refutes Claims on Cost
For Immediate Release: November 1, 2009
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) has released a statement on the continuing economy of asphalt pavement construction.
APA REFUTES CLAIMS FROM CONCRETE INDUSTRY ON COSTS OF PAVING PROJECTS
Lanham, MD – The Asphalt Pavement Alliance (APA) today refuted claims by the concrete industry that the cost of asphalt pavements has risen to match the cost of concrete.
Speaking on behalf of the National Asphalt Pavement Association, asphalt producer/contractor Larry Lemon said, “Asphalt pavement is the buy of the year. There are a couple of reasons for this. For one, with the economy causing a slowdown in construction activity, competition is fierce. Also, the price of asphalt cement is lower than it was last year. What it adds up to is that owners and roadbuilding agencies are getting a great price.” Lemon is the Chairmanelect of NAPA’s Board of Directors and is slated to take office in January. He is Chairman of Haskell Lemon Construction Co. in Oklahoma.
Concurring with Lemon was Asphalt Institute President Pete Grass, P.E. In a recent address at the International Conference on Perpetual Pavements, Grass said, “I’m bullish on asphalt.” He reported on research showing that the U.S. demand for asphalt is the lowest in nearly 30 years. “There has never beena better time for an agency/owner to invest in their infrastructure project by any means available,” he commented.
Examples from around the country illustrate the costeffectiveness of
asphalt pavements:
- In Kentucky, 10 pavement projects were submitted for contracting on the alternate bid system in 2008 and 2009. The lowest bids for 9 of the 10 were asphalt.
- In Virginia, the price for asphalt cement is less than half of what it was in 2008. Prices for asphalt pavement material are down as well. (Asphalt cement is roughly 5 percent by weight of the pavement material, with the remaining 95 percent being made up of stones, sand, and gravel.)
- In Alabama, asphalt pavement construction is priced at 2007 levels. Reflecting the competitive nature of the marketplace, almost all contracts that the DOT has awarded for work on state highways in 2009 have been below the engineers’ estimates.
- In Minnesota, 10 sizeable pavement projects have been alternate design bid in the construction seasons of 2007, 2008, and 2009. Some were for the DOT and others were for large commercial customers. The lowest bid on all 10 projects was for the asphalt pavement.
Lemon concluded, “Asphalt isn’t just the best material for roads and highways, it’s the most costeffective. All the state DOT engineers across the country should be aware that their dollar will go at least 30 percent farther in 2009 than it would have last year. Now is the time for America to renew our roads and highways by milling the surface for recycling, and then placing a new asphalt overlay. The traveling public will be getting a new road that is smooth, durable, safe and quiet. And the road agencies will be getting their best value.”
The Asphalt Pavement Alliance is a coalition of the Asphalt Institute, the National Asphalt Pavement Association, and the State Asphalt Pavement Associations. The APA’s mission is to further the use and quality of asphalt pavements. The Alliance will accomplish this through research, technology transfer, engineering, education, and innovation.
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Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Event Location: Columbus/Polaris Hilton Hotel, 8700 Lyra Drive, Columbus, Ohio, 43240 Online registration for this event is closed. Onsite registration opens at 7:30 A.M. and is subject to capacity limitation. Please contact FPO at (614) 791-3600 or info@flexiblepavements.org for additional information. The Asphalt Expo is Ohio’s premiere asphalt pavement event with multiple concurrent educational sessions and an indoor and outdoor trade show and exhibition. If you construct, inspect, manage or maintain local or private transportation infrastructure the Ohio Asphalt Expo has the information you need to ensure a successful, long-lasting asphalt pavement. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Columbus/Polaris at a special conference rate. The special room rate will be available until the group block is sold-out. Select the link to access the conference room reservation page, contact the Hilton directly at (614) 885-1600 or visit www.hilton.com . Exhibitors seeking services directly from the Hilton (electrical, audio visual, etc.) should select the link to directly order these items. ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Registration Form ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Program- New! ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Exhibitor Memo ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Exhibit Space & Sponsor Registration Form ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Indoor Exhibit Layout ↧ 2025 Ohio Asphalt Expo Outdoor Exhibit Layout
Date: April 2, 2025 Time: 8:30 AM-4:00 PM Location: The Conference Center at OCLC; Lakeside Room; 6600 Kilgour Place; Dublin, OH 43017 Online registration for this training is closed and another course will be scheduled. Please contact FPO at (614) 791-3600 or info@flexiblepavements.org for additional information. This seminar provides the training required personnel with a minimum two years of experience with asphalt paving operations to become approved to perform the Field Quality Control Supervisor (FQCS) function required under ODOT specifications or to acquire re-approval after five years since the previous training. Individuals applying for the first-time as an FQCS must submit detailed project experience to receive approval. Refer to the example spreadsheet below for more information. This session will include training on paving fundamentals and best practices as well as Porous Asphalt Pavement construction to receive an endorsement to construct Porous Asphalt Pavement. Course Content: • Introduction and review of the purpose of the FQCS program and Ethics for QC personnel; • Overview of Quality Control and Quality Assurance • ODOT Asphalt Mixture Overview • Review of FQCS Role in Obtaining Density & Smoothness • Overview of ODOT Specifications for Asphalt Concrete Field Operations • Review of Common Paving/Mat Deficiencies • Design, Materials, Construction and Maintenance of Porous Asphalt Pavements Select the link for course and registration information or register online below.
Date: March 11, 2025 Time: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Location: The Conference Center at OCLC; Lakeside Room; 6600 Kilgour Place; Dublin, OH 43017 Online registration for this training is closed and another course will be scheduled. Please contact FPO at (614) 791-3600 or info@flexiblepavements.org for additional information. This seminar provides the training required personnel with a minimum two years of experience with asphalt paving operations to become approved to perform the Field Quality Control Supervisor (FQCS) function required under ODOT specifications or to acquire re-approval after five years since the previous training. Individuals applying for the first-time as an FQCS must submit detailed project experience to receive approval. Refer to the example spreadsheet below for more information. This session will include training on paving fundamentals and best practices as well as Porous Asphalt Pavement construction to receive an endorsement to construct Porous Asphalt Pavement. Course Content: • Introduction and review of the purpose of the FQCS program and Ethics for QC personnel; • Overview of Quality Control and Quality Assurance • ODOT Asphalt Mixture Overview • Review of FQCS Role in Obtaining Density & Smoothness • Overview of ODOT Specifications for Asphalt Concrete Field Operations • Review of Common Paving/Mat Deficiencies • Design, Materials, Construction and Maintenance of Porous Asphalt Pavements Select the link for course and registration information or register online below.
Date: February 26-28, 2025 Location: Ohio University Lancaster Campus ; 1570 Granville Pike; Herrold Hall, Room 102; Lancaster, OH 43130 Flexible Pavements of Ohio (FPO) offers this training course to prepare individuals having basic lab familiarity to take the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Level 2 Asphalt Technician Exam. Individuals who pass the written test will be scheduled for the practical laboratory exam. Select the link for course and registration information or register online below.
Date: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 Event Location: Fawcett Center, The Ohio State University; 2400 Olentangy River Rd.; Columbus, OH 43210 Online registration for this training is closed. Please contact FPO at (614) 791-3600 or info@flexiblepavements.org for additional information. The Ohio Asphalt Paving Conference is a collaborative effort of state and local government, academia and the asphalt industry to present practical, usable technologies and strategies for the design and construction of asphalt pavements. The 2024 OAPC is offered as either an in-person or virtual event. Please select your participation preference during registration. Registrants for virtual participation will receive an email with a link to access the event. Virtual registrations will not be accepted after January 31, 2025 to accommodate the distribution of information to access the online event.
Comprehensive Asphalt Mix Design School