Highway 407 is a prime example of the
advantages of concrete over asphalt. Not
only is it less plagued by seasonal pot-
holes, but it makes night driving safer due
to its increased reflectivity, Conway said.
The same holds true for parking lots. The
City of Windsor is an example of a munici-
pality that has embraced the benefits of
concrete for paving, he added.
CONCRETE FOR ROADS A
FEASIBLE OPTION
“If you have asphalt getting eight to 12
years now on average before it has to be
replaced, with concrete you can get 40
and 50 in some cases,” he said. As long as
it’s cured correctly, concrete requires little
repair, can be driven on the day after it’s
poured and holds up well against Canada’s
climate. Even the cost of concrete versus
other materials like asphalt is becoming
more competitive, particularly when its
maintenance and lifecycle is taken into ac-
count.
The association also promotes safety
within both the industry and the commu-
nity, operating an RCMAO Safe Driving
Award program and also providing 5,000
truck safety posters to Ontario schools
that show children how to move safely
around construction vehicles. There’s a pi-
lot program in place to outfit trucks with
360-degree cameras and install guards on
the rear wheels. Dashboard cameras are
another feature that can help clear up any
confusion in the case of an accident.
Concrete Ontario is working steadily to
promote its product as a sustainable and
long-lasting option, highlight the impor-
tance of safety throughout the industry
and find new ways to support its member-
ship. Simply put, “it’s an industry on the
right side of things.”
More information on Concrete Ontario can
be found at
.
The long-term vision is to “increase the awareness of concrete as a product and get us back
in some of the discussions that are going on within commercial real estate...”
Chris Conway, President & CEO
OCTOBER 2015
H
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