The use of life-cycle cost analyses (LCCA) illustrated to the city of Windom, MN, the benefits of durable concrete pavements. April Stier of the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Mitch Voehl, GCC Ready Mix, presented pavement life cycle cost analyses to the city council at a March 21 meeting where the council was considering a 25-block street improvement project. The group was reviewing bids for the project that included one with 3 inches of asphalt, 5 inches of rock and 10 inches salvaged base and millings versus 6 inches concrete with 2 inches of rock. Prior consulting engineer discussion eliminated salvaged material for concrete.

Based on LCCA, the Windom City Council selected the concrete bid of $1,356,340, which was approximately $300,000 higher than the asphalt  bid. The 28,716 square yard project, now under construction, will consume 4,786 cubic yards of concrete.