Asphalt Prices are Going Up
Asphalt prices are going up, even as you're reading this now, the price of asphalt has risen dramatically in recent months! What happens next with the price of bitumen is the real question and is there an alternative?
Rising asphalt prices have led to the halt of some road projects and many commercial projects are probably on hold, with many clients now rethinking their plans, be-it new projects or renewal of existing. With industry experts not seeing a reduction in asphalt pricing in the near future and with all the uncertainty in the world, it's become increasingly important to now consider viable alternatives such as Foam base, Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) and possibly even traditional wet lay concrete - these will all become a more viable financial alternative to asphalt if prices carry on increasing as they are at their present levels!
So yes, you can certainly avoid current high asphalt prices!?
Roller compacted Concrete and Foam base are possibly the most viable against asphalt as the speed of laying is similar to asphalt against traditional concrete which can be labour intensive and slower, however the cost difference of the materials can be up to 2.5 times more expensive for asphalt which would give considerable savings if RCC is used.
So what is RCC and can it be considered for all types of jobs?
Although it has been around since the 1970’s, roller compacted concrete (RCC) is starting to look a whole lot more attractive, thanks to the rising awareness of the advantages against asphalt and price difference. RCC is a non-slump concrete, which shares many of the strengths and durability attributes of traditional pavement-quality concrete. It is laid using asphalt paving equipment combined with a high compaction screed; once laid by the paver transverse cracks are induced at regular intervals to allow for any potential contraction of the concrete. Within Europe, advocates are now suggesting that it be used on roads with a thin asphalt layer over the top to provide skid resistance.
Roller-compacted concrete is an alternative material?now being aimed at the surfacing market that is currently dominated by flexible asphaltic solutions. With reduced investment in infrastructure; and the price of bitumen having risen exponentially over recent years, companies are constantly researching alternative materials that will help to keep costs down however still offer similar levels of performance over a considerable lifetime.
Based on a cementitious alternative to bitumen and with the latest additives and technology, RCC could have a major impact on the design of roads, surfaces and paved areas both now and in the coming decades. Around 35% of the price of asphalt is directly attributable to the high cost of bitumen and it is because of this that companies are developing today's RCC. Whether the binders in the mix are bitumen based or cement based, they are doing the same job - binding aggregates.
Given the long-term life cycle cost benefits of RCC, there is huge potential for its use in both new construction and surfacing maintenance. One possible solution currently being explored by roads and highways is the use of RCC with a thin asphalt layer overlay to provide skid resistance and noise reduction. The obvious advantages towards using roller compacted concrete are that is has good durability and a relatively maintenance free life. Concrete roads have a service life almost four times longer than asphalt roads and also do not require as frequent repair or patching work unlike asphalt roads.
It is also a much more sustainable alternative to using asphalt because bitumen produces large quantities of highly polluting gases at the time of heating for paving. Asphalt is produced from imported petroleum, the reserves of which are becoming less available as time moves forward. On the other hand, concrete is made from the abundantly available limestone, of which there is a larger natural supply. Asphalt roads wear more than concrete roads, but many countries are replacing concrete roads with asphalt because it is cheaper, despite concrete roads having some major advantages. Asphalt is an economical, recyclable and safe way of surfacing roads. It also provides better traction and skid resistance for vehicles. Maintenance is relatively easy, although is required much more often due to the longevity of the asphalt being considerably less.
Which is best then? The combination of a concrete base with an asphalt overlay creates a durable, safe and more environmentally friendly road. Essentially providing the best of both worlds. Noise is reduced immensely, and the asphalt provides a layer of skid resistance that the concrete does not provide. The concrete serves as a strong and durable base that will not subdue to adverse weather; and provides the perfect underlay for the layer of asphalt.