Benefits of Roller Compacted Concrete for Local Roads

Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) is the optimal pavement construction solution for local streets and roads. In this video, hear how RCC's installation and maintenance costs are lower than asphalt, as it provides for a more durable pavement solution. RCC is ideal for the urban environment as it allows for roads to be quickly reopened for traffic in as little as one day.

This video explains how RCC got its start in the seventies and how its use has evolved through the years to other applications such as dams, parking areas, distribution areas, highway shoulders, industrial pavements, and now -- with innovations in mix designs, new equipment and grinding technology -- local streets and roads.

Andy Johnson of the South Carolina Department of Transportation explains the success his state has had with RCC on road construction projects since 2003. To date, he has worked on numerous projects with very favorable, cost-effective results. He exemplifies this by describing how in one specific project, it took only 15 days to complete a one-mile long, 4-lane wide rehabilitation which required milling 10 inches of the existing surface and replacing it with RCC. It would have taken 33 days to complete had asphalt been used. In other words, using asphalt would have doubled the construction time, further impacting access to local businesses.

In terms of construction costs, RCC is typically equal to or as much as 20% lower than asphalt, depending on the project. Additionally, the life cycle costs of RCC when compared to asphalt are about 30% lower.

The basic ingredients of RCC are the same as for conventional concrete: sand, aggregates, cement, and water. Mix designs may vary based on the job application. Mixing is usually done on or near the work site, and is delivered in dump trucks. RCC is placed much drier than conventional concrete, which results in higher compressive and flexural strengths. It is placed with asphalt pavers, and then compacted with rollers. It needs no forms or reinforcing steel. Placement is straightforward: mix it, place it, compact it, and cure it.

Not only is RCC the optimum choice for pavements, but it also supports sustainable development. RCC pavements provide high solar reflectivity, which helps mitigate the urban heat island effect.

CEMEX provides building materials products and services across the U.S. You can reach us at 1-855-CX-BUILD (1-855-292-8453) or at cemex.solutions@cemex.com for more information.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.cemexusa.com/rm/rm_ap_en.html.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• CEMEX USA
• roller compacted concrete
• RCC
• concrete
• ready mix
• aggregates
• asphalt
• concrete curing
• local road construction
• road construction
• paving
• paving systems
• pavement
• industrial pavement
• pavement solutions
• RCC pavement design
• RCC mix designs
• low volume road design
• residential street design
• sustainability
• carbon emissions
• solar reflectivity
• urban heat island

[Yrogerg1089]

@cjzollinger Excellent, that was the number that I was eventually able to come up with as well. Thank you!

[cjzollinger]

@Yrogerg1089 From my experence the avg cost of RCC per CY is about the same as conventional concrete which is comparable in some markets to the ENR price if it were in CY. The SY price for 8" is closer to $30/SY, but would certainly depend on the contractor and location. When designed comparable to each other, RCC can be cost competitive with asphalt.

[Yrogerg1089]

I am doing research for a Senior Design course. What is the average cost per CY of RCC? ENR 2010 reports it as $68 per SY for and 8 inch pavement. While I do not doubt ENR this seems much more expensive than asphalt.

[lovethequestions]

@DukeNukem65 I've got good news for you. Ozinga has started providing it, and traditional asphalt pavers are laying it down. There's a 26-acre parking lot in Joliet that's almost finished, and RCC is on the rise. I'm writing a promo video for it and saw this while researching.

[DukeNukem65]

Would love to see this here in Illinois. The durability would be great.