Massachusetts Promoter Finds Inspiration from Western New York Concrete Tour

NRMCA Senior Director, Local Paving, Doug O’Neill recently invited the newly appointed executive director of the Massachusetts Concrete & Aggregate Producers Association (MaCAPA) Craig Dauphinais on a tour of the concrete pavements in Western New York.
Dauphinais, an industry veteran of 30 years, certainly understands that concrete can be successfully done in New England, but bringing that message to municipal officials in Massachusetts and Rhode Island could be aided with a better understanding of how it’s being done in other areas with similar climactic conditions, i.e., what better place than Buffalo, NY?

During the 6-hour drive from his Central Massachusetts offices, Dauphinais stopped at several rest areas to inspect the concrete overlays that have been placed at most car and truck parking areas along that stretch of the New York State Thruway. The two promoters then met in Rochester, NY, where they were met by a NYSDOT official at a concrete roundabout (on Kendrik Road, Rochester seen here) that was successfully placed about three years ago.

The DOT engineer provided some valuable advice and details of how some of the projects in the region came about. Once in Buffalo, American Concrete Pavement Association New York Chapter Executive Director Jim Shea supplied an even more detailed account of the concrete intersections and road paving that has taken place in Buffalo for 20+ years. Along the tour they inspected intersections, roadways, parking lots and several villages that decided to go concrete for their entire Main Street sections. Dauphinais chronicled each stop with pictures along with the detailed background information Shea was able to provide.

"It was amazing to be there and see these intersections in real life working and performing after years and years of heavy traffic and winter conditions," Dauphinais said. "It's exciting to see and gives me hope that we can bring concrete intersections back here to New England."

For more information, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org. If you get the chance to welcome Craig Dauphinais into his new position as MaCAPA’s executive director, he can be reached at craig.dauphinais@aol.com.