Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota

Concrete celebration! Today was MnDOT’s rededication of golden panels on Interstate 90 near Blue Earth with a ribbon cutting ceremony, July 18, 2024.

Included: muffins made of concrete.

Dan Labo, CPAM, gave a speech, alongside other policymakers!

“In 1978, concrete panels near Blue Earth were tinted gold to commemorate the completion of over 3,000 miles of I-90 to be reminiscent of the ‘Golden Spike’ that symbolized completion of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad. However, most of the golden panels were paved over when the interstate needed repaving in 2006. As part of the current 20-mile pavement project on I-90 from Blue Earth to south of Wells, the golden panels were reinstalled in their original locations across the eastbound and westbound lanes of I-90, just west of Blue Earth. Funding for the nearly $91 million project was primarily from federal funds.” Via MnDOT

70+ years is the design life for this concrete pavement. Wright County CSAH 35. Thanks Rep. Nolan West for checking it out. Pictured with Dan Labo, P.E., CPAM Executive Director.

Thank you for touring Wright County CSAH 35 construction in St. Michael, MN today! A great example of long-lasting concrete pavement by the experts, Shafer Contracting. Wright County MN. Senator Bruce Anderson, Senator Jeff Howe, Representative Paul Novotny, Rep. Danny Nadeau, State Representative Kristin Bahner.

About Non-Profit Trade Associationof Businesses | CPAM The Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota (CPAM) was established in 1959 as a non-profit trade association of businesses with an interest in concrete paving.

To address climate change mitigation goals, the Minnesota Road Research Facility is investigating alternative mixtures that are claimed to have a lower GWP (global warming potential) while also having equal or better long-term performance as conventional mixes used by Minnesota Department of Transportation. The constructed as part of this study will be monitored for three years. Read more: https://mdl.mndot.gov/items/NRRA202401

Washington State University researchers received a grant to further develop a more durable sealer that protects , bridges & other concrete from salt and water damage. Tests have so far demonstrated the sealer—which uses concrete-penetrating nanomaterials—repels 75% more water and 44% more salt than common sealers. The researchers say the new sealer increases density and decreases gas permeability, leading to lower water absorption and better resistance to salt scaling.

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust grant supports WSU concrete sealer research The grant will support the development of a new, more durable concrete sealer that protects bridges, pavement, and other structures from salt and water damage.

Why is concrete pavement the sustainable choice? Concrete is one of the most versatile and resilient building materials available. Designing our busiest roads with long-lasting pavement results in multiple benefits.
http://acpa.org/sustainability-white-paper/

MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub recently released its Spring 2023-2024 Review, which summarizes the work taking place under the areas of:

· neutrality—i.e., multifunctional .

· — .

· Resilience—designing for longevity.

· The workforce—redefining the role of concrete delivery professionals.

The document also provides links to news items, opinion pieces, issue briefs, presentations, webinars & more.

irp.cdn-website.com

CPAM in the News!

Concrete paving on Hwy. 212 near Sacred Heart, Minnesota, wins award The Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota award for overlays in 2023 recognized the work done on U.S. Highway 212 between Renville County Road 6 and Minnesota Highway 23.

Fillmore County took home “County Overlays Award 2023” for CSAH 25 from CSAH 10 to County Road 107. Coordination of the project and paving was done by contractor Croell, Inc.

Concrete overlays can be paved over existing pavement, whether asphalt or concrete. Frequently, an additional 10-25% upfront investment in paving material to a long-lasting concrete pavement can achieve tremendous return on investment; often increasing the design life by 50-100%. Concrete overlays help ensure we get the most efficient solution for the tax dollars expended.

📸 Back (L to R): Jean Wallace, Matt Zeller. Front (L to R): Aaron Lukes, Ron Gregg, Chris Aasum

In Memoriam: Frank J. Weiss III
It is with deep sympathy that we share the passing of Frank Weiss on April 14, 2024. Frank passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones.

Starting his Minnesota career at C.S. McCrossan, and then working at Shafer Contracting Co., Inc. since 1978, Frank has been a long time friend of CPAM’s. At Shafer, Frank not only met his wife, Michelle, but also worked his way up the ranks to serve as Shafer Contracting’s President until his passing.

A Celebration of Life was held Friday, April 26. Memorial Services were held on Monday, April 29. The full obituary with funeral service details can be found online here. https://www.muellermemorial.com/obituaries/frank-weiss

We extend our deepest sympathies to Franks’s family, including his wife Michelle, two children Jill and Frankie, to his extended family, and to Frank’s many friends, during their time of grief. Please join us in honoring them all in your thoughts.

Ramsey County, was awarded “Urban: County New / Reconstruction Award 2023” for Ramsey County Highway 51 from County Rd E to I-694. Shafer Contracting Co. was the paving contractor. Cemstone supplied the concrete. Consulting engineers were Alliant Engineering, Inc. and Sambatek, Inc.

Olmsted County won the “Rural: County New / Reconstruction Award 2023” for work phases on the reconstruction of CSAH 4 (Valley High Road NW) / CSAH 44 (60th Avenue NW). The improvements included roadway upgrades, a roundabout intersection, multi-use paths, access modifications, and safety improvements. Olmsted County staff worked with prime contractor Fitzgerald Excavating, concrete paving contractor Shafer Contracting Co., Inc, and SRF Consulting Group.

Back (L to R): Jean Wallace, Nathan Arnold, Ryan McKenzie, Jay Volgren, Matthew Zeller Front (L to R): Jeff Busch, Ryan McCarney, Kevin Springer, Brian Eckdahl, Jon McPherson

And the winner is... (drumroll please)... PCiRoads LLC for the "MnDOT CPR" category of our recent paving awards! We recognize the high-quality concrete pavement preservation, repair, and construction performed on I-94 & I-35E from Western Ave to Mounds Blvd in City of Saint Paul - which has been rated the best project of its type completed in Minnesota during 2023. Prime CPR contractor PCi Roads joined Minnesota Department of Transportation Metro District and Diamond Surface, Inc.

📸: Back (L to R): Jean Wallace, Clay Sivigny, Sam Grimm, Matt Zeller, Front (L to R): Adam Spear, Dan Shogren, Chris Anderson, Al Adamek

Congrats to the award winners for "MnDOT Overlays" category of our recent paving awards! US-212 from Sacred Heart to Renville included outstanding contributions from Shafer Contracting Co., Minnesota Department of Transportation District 8, SRF Consulting and WSB.

At a time when infrastructure needs are great, we are glad to see investment and stewardship of existing road resources over their life cycle. A great example of this is Hwy 212 in Renville County - from east of Hwy 23 to CR 6 in Renville. The concrete pavement was resurfaced and will reliably serve local traffic for decades to come. In Sacred Heart, the reconstructed roadway also has upgraded sidewalks, pedestrian ramps and adjacent driveways to meet Americans with Disabilities (ADA) standards. Concrete paving was done by industry-leading pros Shafer Contracting.

📸: Back (L to R): Jean Wallace (MnDOT Chief Engineer), Jay Volgren, Dave Snidarich, Adam Ahrndt, Alan Setrum, Kelly Brunkhorst, Matt Zeller (CPAM) Front (L to R): Ryan McKenzie, Ryan McCarney, Kevin Springer, Brian Eckdahl, Jon McPherson

Congrats to the award winners for "MnDOT New Construction" category of our recent paving awards! TH 52 from Cannon Falls to Zumbrota included outstanding contributions from Minnesota Department of Transportation District 6, PCiRoads LLC, Mathiowetz Construction Company, KLJ Engineering LLC, and WSB Engineering. Highway 52 is an important corridor between the Twin Cities and Rochester, and the new pavement will last for several decades.

Back (L to R): Jean Wallace, John Kaste, AJ Spear, Sam Grimm, Randy Shoen, Justin Bossert, Matt Zeller. Front (L to R): Mike Dougherty, Tory Thompson, Nicole Muske, Clay Sivigny, Scott Johnson

We support improving the MnDOT Pavement Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) law. We have detailed recommendations for this agency process.

Long-term pavement solutions yield long-term savings. These solutions are typically better for the public, and provide numerous environmental and economic benefits, especially for the state’s busiest highways.

63rd Annual Awards Banquet for Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota, held in Mankato, MN.

What if MnDOT had the financial ability to "upscope" a portion of their existing projects to a 70-year minimum design life? In many instances, the cost-effectiveness of the pavement would increase dramatically. Therefore:

We propose establishing a "Resilient Paving Program" to increase the cost effectiveness of our pavement investments.

This program would be modeled on Corridors of Commerce program, and would provide gap funding to upscope existing projects in the STIP/CHIP to longer-life fixes.

Larry Scofield, Pavement Innovation Engineer for ACPA and International Grooving & Grinding Association - IGGA; Jim Mack, Market Development Director at CEMEX; and Dan Labo, Director of Engineering Services at the Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota each presented on a range of topics at the Indiana Chapter - American Concrete Pavement Association Annual Concrete Pavement Workshop and Awards last week. Scofield spoke on (Next Generation Concrete Surface) as well as urban heat island.

In the News: Congratulations again to national award winners for long-lasting pavements on Hennepin Avenue and Scott County CSAH 83 (Canterbury Road). https://www.startribune.com/ramp-closure-gates-in-metro-are-part-of-mndot-crash-strategy-pilot/600346011/

Gold Award: Hennepin Avenue. The prime contractor and concrete paving expert was Ti-Zack Concrete, LLC of Le Center, MN. The City of Minneapolis Government consulted with engineers from SEH - Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. and AECOM. Concrete was supplied by Cemstone. With a total project length of over one mile in a highly complex setting, crews succeeded in addressing significant challenges with schedules, coordination with utilities, nearby building construction, local support, and COVID setbacks. Construction on the $40-million project began in April 2020 and concluded in September 2022. Four lanes wide, the roadway was paved with 9” deep concrete pavement. This concrete design can easily last more than fifty years requiring minimal maintenance, to serve the heavily traveled streets over 40,000 daily users without interruption. Hennepin Avenue’s reconstruction used concrete as the pavement and surfacing solution for this important transportation corridor. Many major utilities within the corridor were repaired and replaced, and several new multi-modal elements were added. The redesign considered the City of Minneapolis’ Complete Streets Policy. To accommodate crowds using the sidewalks for events, the project included wider walkways, improved lighting, trees and planters, new signals, for improved safety of pedestrian crossings. The choice to use concrete represented a solid investment in the long-term performance of this vital community corridor.

Silver Award: Scott County MN - Government County Highway 83 (Canterbury Rd) from Trunk Highway 169 to 4th Ave in Shakopee, MN City Government. With Shafer Contracting, Kimley-Horn, Hoffman Construction, and AET. This project increased safety, improved ops in an already busy corridor, and enhanced capacity for future economic development. CH 83 plays a critical role providing north/south arterial access.

"Investing in a higher-performance road system is a lever within state control that will improve the efficiency and carbon emissions of all vehicles, regardless of how each is powered. Smoother, stiffer roads allow cars to travel along it more efficiently."

The authors also discuss pavement life cycle impact and maintenance strategies.

We agree with the following point, too:
"We can make demonstrable improvements to road ride quality and environmental footprint with smart investments and long-term thinking. For instance, by prioritizing concrete paving for high-volume traffic roads, we can keep important thoroughfares smoother and stiffer for longer."

We’re overhauling our cars in the name of energy efficiency — why not our roads? Our government is overlooking an important lever impacting transportation emissions: The performance of our road system.

Concrete pavement is the most durable paving system available. Concrete roads, highways, bridges, and industrial sites can last more than 50 years. Concrete overlays have a proven record of being versatile, long-term solutions. For almost any combination of pavement type and condition, concrete overlays extend the life of the original pavement structure.

Concrete lasts longer with less repair. MnDOT reported in 2020 that the average life of unbonded concrete overlays is 36 years before repair! New Minnesota concrete pavement designs are expected to last for 60+ years with minimal maintenance.

Pavement selection needs to consider the long-term cost, not just initial costs. Today’s decisions must weigh the risks and benefits of performance, economics, and environmental impacts.

Source: "Reliability Analysis of Minnesota’s Unbonded Concrete Overlay Performance" authored by Izevbekhai, Farah, and Engstrom. Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0361198120930716

We are so excited for CPAM's upcoming 63rd Annual Workshop and Paving Awards Banquet! The workshop will be held on Thursday, March 14 - Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Civic Center in Mankato, MN! We have a stacked agenda on a variety of concrete topics.

Registration for the Annual Workshop is now open! Register for the workshop here! http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ek7tu8jud012b2d4&llr=vywoa4uab

Congratulations to the 10 winning Paving Awards projects! These winners will be honored during the workshop at the Awards Banquet held on Thursday night.

2506-83 MnDOT D6 Reconstruction Project on TH 52 from Cannon Falls to Zumbrota
6510-67 MnDOT D8 Overlay Project on TH 212 from TH 23 to CSAH 6
6283-247 MnDOT Metro District CPR Project on TH 94 & TH 35E from Western Ave to Mounds Blvd
055-604-018; 055-644-002 Olmsted County New Construction Project on CSAH 4 from CR 158 to 50th Av & CSAH 44 from CSAH 4 to N 55th St
062-651-061 Ramsey County Urban Reconstruction Project on CSAH 51 from County Rd E to I-694
023-625-016 Filmore County Overlay Project on CSAH 25 from CSAH 10 to CR 107
ST-009 City of Marshall Reconstruction Project on N 3rd St from Mainstreet to Redwood St & W Lyon St from TH 19 to 5th St
A6901-203; A6901-205 Duluth Airport Project Midfield Ramp Repair & Taxiway A Reconstruction
5211-66 MnDOT D7 Intersection Project on TH 169 from S Washington Ave to Jefferson Ave
002-635-012 Anoka County Roundabout Project on CSAH 35 and Gardena Ave NE Intersection

2024 CPAM Concrete Paving Workshop & Awards Banquet Join us for the latest info and updates in the concrete paving industry. PDH certification forms will be provided to all attendees. Visit the Calendar/Events page on our website at www.concreteisbetter.com for the full agenda and additional information.

March 14-15, 2024 CPAM Concrete Paving Workshop & Awards Banquet:

Join us for the latest info and updates in the concrete paving industry! PDH certification forms will be provided to all attendees. Visit our website for the full agenda and additional information.

2024 CPAM Concrete Paving Workshop & Awards Banquet Join us for the latest info and updates in the concrete paving industry. PDH certification forms will be provided to all attendees. Visit the Calendar/Events page on our website at www.concreteisbetter.com for the full agenda and additional information.

CPAM Executive Director Receives Outstanding Promoter Award!

As part of ACPA’s recent Annual Meeting in Marco Island, Florida, our own CPAM Executive Director Matt Zeller was selected as this years’ recipient of the ACPA Outstanding Promoter Award!

This award is given annually to someone who has made significant contributions through promotion efforts or programs to advance the awareness, specification, and/or placement of concrete pavements. This recognition is reserved for those who have been on the front lines making a difference for our industry. Please help us in congratulating Matt for this well-deserved award!

Photo: Matt Zeller (L) CPAM Executive Director, Laura O’Neill-Kaumo (R) ACPA President & CEO

It is with deep sympathy that we share the passing of Dan Frentress on November 19, 2023.

Dan was a longtime friend of CPAM, serving as Executive Director for 15 years. During his time at CPAM, he was awarded the Arnie Laingen Award, which he considered one of his biggest accomplishments with the organization. The Arnie Laingen award honors individuals who exemplify Arnie's integrity and commitment to promoting quality and excellence in the concrete paving industry in Minnesota. He was selected by a committee of his peers, all prior winners of the award.

Dan has had many prestigious positions since leaving CPAM in 2000. He served as Vice President of Highways for the American Concrete Paving Association, started his own consulting business Frentress Enterprises LLC, specializing in concrete training and research, and in 2006 he contracted with the International Groving and Grinding Association to promote concrete repair and Diamond Grinding in the states of Texas and Iowa.

Funeral services for Dan will be held this upcoming weekend. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 24th at 5pm at Jones Pearson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Saturday, November 25th at Grace Community Church in Osage, MN with lunch to follow. The full obituary with funeral service details can be found online here. https://www.jonespearson.com/obituary/daniel-frentress

We extend our deepest sympathies to Dan’s family, including his wife Debbie, three children, and grandchildren, and to Dan’s many friends, during their time of grief. Please join us in honoring them all in your thoughts.

Recap: Roundabout Best Practices Workshops

On October 11th and 12th, Dan King of the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center at Iowa State, and Eric Ferrebee of the American Concrete Pavement Association, led roundabout training workshops at MnDOT’s Mankato and St. Cloud District offices. This training was held in partnership with MnDOT and CPAM, and focused on training the various State, County, City, and consultant staff best practices of concrete roundabout design. Pictured here, Eric Ferrebee of ACPA Presents Concrete Jointing Best Practices.

The next Technology Tuesday Webinar is scheduled for November 14th, at 12 noon Central.

TOPIC: Reducing the Cradle-to-Gate Embodied Carbon Content of Paving Grade Concrete – A New Guide

This webinar will describe approaches to reduce the upfront ECC of concrete used for paving applications. This represents but one component of the overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a pavement over its lifecycle, and can be an important early step in bringing attention to the need for carbon reduction as well as implementing quantifiable change. Reducing the ECC of paving concrete relies on strategies that are within the scope of designers, material specifiers, and construction staff at agencies. These strategies include 1) those targeting the cementitious binder, 2) those targeting the concrete mixtures to optimize binder content, 3) strategies to reduce the embodied carbon content of aggregates, and 4) performance specifications for concrete mixtures. The webinar will also highlight means to quantify the potential improvements the strategies mentioned offer.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5064853469099875930