Sources: Prairie Material, Bridgeview, Ill.; CP staff
Richard Olsen, president of Great Lakes market ready mixed concrete and aggregate mainstay Prairie Material, pegs five growth areas this year in his current outlook report, The Source:
- Roller compacted concrete pavement will see more demand in intermodal and heavy truck traffic projects, while municipalities will adopt it for full-depth repairs and new streets—with or without asphalt wear course.
- Pervious concrete will emerge in highway shoulders and other new applications as agencies promote storm water management. Better placing and curing practice, plus improved testing measures, will underscore the pavement’s performance characteristics.
- Asphalt-to-concrete conversions will continue to grow in parking lot specifications as owners measure lighting costs and high albedo ratings, and acknowledge concrete pavements’ safety and economy.
- Among value-added ready mixed offerings, Prairie’s Redi-Fill road repair product will enjoy greater agency adoption, a major City of Chicago contract leading the thrust. Aridus, a proprietary mix produced under license with U.S. Concrete, will see greater acceptance among specifiers and engineers seeking to attain narrow moisture parameters in floorcovering-ready slabs.
Also on tap for 2013 across Prairie Materials’ Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan concrete operations, Olson notes Dura Drive, a new driveway mix formulated for improved finishing and durability; promotion of Strength on Demand, an early-strength system for time-critical jobs; and, the availability of an integrated sealer system for exterior flatwork.