Anyone who purchases a product online, shops for groceries, drives their kids to soccer practice, or travels across the country or across town benefits from a vast network of roadways, highways, airports, and industrial pavements. In fact, every day in every way, everyone is impacted by a transportation network that is largely taken for granted. Whether you are directly or indirectly responsible for or involved in preserving surface transportation infrastructure, or just someone who depends on that network, it is time to take a new look at some of the challenges and new opportunities that are available today. After you read “Concrete Pavements: The Right Choice Beneath Your Tires,” we invite you to find out even more answers to your questions by visiting www.pavements4life.com or by e-mailing us at info@acpa.org. We’ll be happy to provide you with more answers and put you in contact with a local representative in your area. To learn more about the features and benefits of concrete pavements, click on each of the subheads below to see more information. Because Highways and Roadways Must Last Longer   Concrete has been used to build some of the longest-lasting highways, airports, roadways, and other pavements in the world. Across the U.S., there are concrete highways and roads that were designed to last 20 years, but have lasted 30, 40, or 50 years, or even longer. Many of these pavements are carrying significantly more traffic, including larger trucks carrying heavier loads, than engineers originally intended. No matter where you live, you probably have experienced the frequent replacement of roads made from materials that are not as strong and durable as concrete. These pavements were probably a little cheaper to build up front, but in the long run they are robbing all of us with high maintenance costs and lost time from frequent delays for maintenance, resurfacing and replacement. Because the True Cost of Ownership is What Matters   Every time you pump gasoline or diesel fuel into your car or truck, you are paying taxes for transportation infrastructure. Paying tolls also is payment for the road beneath your tires. Taxpayers and road users own the roads and deserve the most informed decisions on how their money is invested. Concrete pavements are unquestionably the right choice because they almost always have the lowest total ownership cost, and because durable concrete naturally requires far less maintenance than asphalt. Because the Transportation Network Needs to Be Preserved   Almost all of the work on the nation's highways and roadways aims to preserve what is already there instead of expanding the system’s capacity. Concrete overlays are an excellent choice to help preserve and rehabilitate existing systems. Ranging in thickness from 2 inches to 11 inches or more, concrete overlays of existing asphalt, concrete, or composite pavements create a new pavement structure with superior structural and sustainability benefits. Concrete overlays can extend the service life of highways, streets, airports, and other pavements by 15 years or more. Concrete pavements are the right choice beneath our tires because they help preserve our network and conserve valuable resources. Because Safeguarding the Environment is Everyone’s Responsibility   The world’s population grew from 2.9 billion in 1950 to almost 6.8 billion in 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As the population has increased and industrial development has grown with it, the world’s supply of natural resources becomes more scarce and at greater risk of depletion. Sustainability—balancing environmental requirements with societal needs and economic considerations—is one of the most important issues of our time. Although going green may be a recent thing for many industries, concrete pavements have a long history of exceptional environmental performance. Because Streetscapes Build Civic Pride   Civic leaders and people responsible for planning and building our communities are finding that it is not only possible, but very practical to balance natural elements with man-made structures. Concrete plays a key role in transforming cities and towns into beautiful, exciting, thriving areas that support the environment, while also benefiting residents, businesses, and the community. Concrete’s natural reflectance brightens roadways, parking areas, and sidewalks. It looks cleaner and stays clean-looking longer than other construction materials. Decorative and colored concrete pavements are breathing new life into urban areas, increasing civic pride. Because Innovation Benefits Everyone   If there is such a thing as an all-purpose pavement to meet all demands, concrete pavement may well be the answer, as a result of decades of innovation. The concrete pavement industry is continually developing new paving processes and products, all aimed at meeting the changing demands of the traveling public, as well as those of the people responsible for our nation’s surface transportation network. For today and tomorrow, concrete pavement is the most cost-effective, most sustainable choice for highways, airports, roadways, and other pavement applications. Concrete pavements are the right choice beneath your tires. To order a printed copy of "Concrete Pavements: The Right Choice Beneath Your Tires," click here, or alternatively, visit the ACPA bookstore at http://www.acpa.org/bookstore. From the drop-down menu below the phrase, "Shop For," select merchandise, and then, type "right choice" in the box marked "Enter Name/Keyword."