High Asphalt Prices Could Mean More Concrete Streets in SLC
Aug 26, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler
(KCPW News) Salt Lake City is one of many across the nation bemoaning the quadrupling cost of asphalt this year due to historically high crude oil prices and an asphalt shortage. In fact, it could mean more Salt Lake City streets will be paved with concrete.
"A concrete street is usually more money to install up front. But it is much cheaper over the lifetime cost of the pavement," says Deputy City Engineer John Naser. "Whereas an asphalt may be a little bit less money to install it. It requires a lot more maintenance. It has to be overlayed, it has to have patches done in it, whereas concrete can go 50 years, 80 years, and really not have work done to it."
Naser says some of Salt Lake City's existing concrete streets are 90 years old. He says they are particularly useful for residential streets. However, there is a downside: concrete takes longer to set.
"An asphalt pavement you can basically lay it down and roll it and drive on it. With a concrete pavement, you have to put it down and wait for seven days to drive on it," Naser says. "So it is really difficult, especially for businesses, that now people can't get in and out of the business. And, it keeps people out of their driveways, too."
Naser says the city will continue to use asphalt, especially to repave busy streets in commercial zones. The number of streets repaved with concrete will be determined largely by the cost of asphalt. If it continues to increase, he says the city will need to reevaluate how many streets are slated for repairs.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2009 KCPW
1. David Sethre said:
Great article. Just thought I should correct the notion that concrete takes 7 days before one can drive on it. Actually, just a little tweaking of concrete mixes allow cars and pickups to drive on concrete pavements in 8 to 12 hours; only a slight inconvenience. In fact, California reconstructs their interstate highways during the night and puts traffic back on the new concrete in 4 hours. Concrete is much better in the long run and this article says it.
2. Tom Clarke said:
The time it takes to do the maintenance on an asphalt street over the life of the pavement and its replacement 6 or 7 times over a 80 - 90 life appears to be unworthy of comment. But, the inconvenience of the curing period for an 80 - 90 year life with less maintenance interruption does. Very curious logic?