Engineering and Advocacy Secure Concrete Project in Nebraska

The influence of local partners led Osceola, NE, to choose concrete for its Main Street reconstruction project. Portland Cement Association allies Bill Cook, Nebraska Concrete Paving Association, and Jereme Montgomery, Nebraska Concrete and Aggregates Association, initially worked with the consulting engineer. Prior to the project being open for bidding, they were able to effect an increase in the asphalt pavement section from four inches to six. This made the concrete and asphalt pavement sections equal, although no change was made to 12-inches of crushed base, which is an overdesign for concrete.

Following bidding, Cook and Montgomery advocated for concrete before the Osceola City Council. They presented life-cycle cost arguments that included a projected 15-year service life for asphalt and 30 years for concrete; the consulting engineer in attendance agreed with this analysis. Although the concrete bid was 20 percent higher, council selected it based on the presented LCCA. The Osceola Main Street reconstruction is 13 blocks long and will use 830 tons of cementious material.