As part of its ongoing commitment to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of cement and concrete to sustainable building solutions, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) honored the City of Dallas’ Street Services Department with a 2008 PCA Sustainable Leadership Award. Kelly High, director, Street Services Department accepted the award on behalf the department at the Dallas City Council meeting on November 19.
The PCA Sustainable Leadership Awards honor public officials who utilize cement or cement based products to achieve sustainable benefits. The City of Dallas’ Street Services team project won because for its innovative program to reuse, reclaim and recycle the materials used in roadway rehabilitation, restoration and partial reconstruction. In addition to Dallas, PCA recognized winners in seven other cities across the nation who have enacted policies or completed projects that promote sustainable development.
One of the most cost-effective, durable and sustainable methods the Department of Street Services has embraced is the use of FDR with cement for its street restoration program. Using FDR with cement means worn-out asphalt pavement can be rebuilt while recycling the existing roadway. The old asphalt and base materials are pulverized, mixed with cement and water, and compacted to produce a strong, durable base for either an asphalt or concrete surface. By using the old asphalt and base material for the new road, there is no need to haul in aggregate or haul out old material for disposal, reducing the amount of fuel consumed and reducing fuel emissions in the area.
The City of Dallas estimates that it is recycling an average of 80 percent of its existing street materials; simultaneously the program provides significant savings on roadway repair and restoration costs. Dallas commuters and residents also benefit from the FDR process which reduced the time needed for road construction. “We are able to get our streets back to commuters faster than we’ve done in the past,” stated High.
Jan Prusinski, executive director, Cement Council of Texas presented the Award on behalf of the Portland Cement Association to Kelly High, who accepted on behalf of the City Dallas’ Street Services Department.
To learn more about the Award and sustainable development benefits made possible by concrete, visit http://www.cement.org/newsroom/SLA_2008_Awards.asp.
