American Concrete Pavement Association Supports Highways for LIFE
By Gregg Miller
FHWA's Highways for LIFE, (Long-lasting highways using Innovative technologies and practices to accomplish Fast construction of Efficient and safe pavements and bridges), received another vote of confidence last July when the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) Board of Directors passed a Resolution to support the program and offered to join FHWA in bringing the goals of the program into practice in the highway community.
Following a Highways for LIFE stakeholder outreach event held at Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in October 2005, FHWA Executive Director Bud Wright-along with other FHWA representatives-met with delegates from ACPA, including Gerald F. "Jerry" Voigt, P.E., the association's President and Chief Executive Officer.
"I assume you feel that this program we're starting will continue on for highway bills to come," stated Voigt. "We would like to think it would become the common way of practice rather than a special way of thinking."
"That's exactly what we hope will be the case," answered Wright. "This is about taking us to the next level in highway construction-about mainstreaming things that really have advanced in the last 50 years but aren't being used as common practice. I absolutely think this is a forever kind of thing-whether or not we have special incentive funding or is framed exactly like what we're proposing to do under SAFETEA-LU ... the concepts are absolutely the way we want to do business. I hope you're right and this is the next generation of highway construction."
FHWA has a long-standing tradition in working with ACPA, and Wright expressed FHWA's pleasure in receiving the association's endorsement for the program and conveyed how much FHWA is looking forward to continuing the successful partnership.
ACPA Delegation, from left to right: Gerald F. "Jerry" Voigt, P.E., President and Chief Executive Officer ACPA; Dan C. Keys, President of Berns Construction Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Chairman of ACPA's Board of Directors; and Leif G. Wathne, P.E., Director of Highways, ACPA, (prior to joining ACPA, Wathne served more than eight years as a fulltime staff consultant to FHWA as the mobile concrete laboratory project engineer and as a concrete pavement research laboratory engineer).
As planned, Voigt presented a signed and framed copy of the ACPA resolution-but not before adding one more tidbit of interest:
"Our Board adopted this [resolution] back on the 14th day of July. In the process of getting the signatures, we had some unfortunate events occur, such as [Hurricanes] Katrina and Rita that caused some delays, so we certainly appreciate the fact that you've given us some time to come in and present this today ... in fact, this [resolution] was passed prior to the passing of the highway bill.
"That's what I noted when I saw the copy of it ... you were on board before we even had it into law!"
Pictured left to right; Dan C. Keys, President of Berns Construction Co., Inc., Indianapolis, Chairman of ACPA's Board of Directors; Charles Churilla, Director, Office of Infrastructure, FHWA; Suneel Vanikar, Concrete Team Leader, FHWA; King W. Gee, Associate Administrator for Infrastructure; Frederick "Bud" Wright, Executive Director, FHWA; Gerald F. "Jerry" Voigt, P.E., President and Chief Executive Officer ACPA; Leif G. Wathne, P.E., Director of Highways, ACPA; Tommy Beatty, Director, Office of Pavement Technology, FHWA; and Gary Henderson, Director, Office of Infrastructure Research and Development, FHWA.
ACPA is the national association representing concrete pavement contractors, cement companies; ready mixed concrete producers, equipment and material manufacturers and suppliers-more than 500 member companies. Their mission is to make Portland Cement Concrete the material of choice for airport, highway, industrial, street and local road pavements. The association provides a range of products and services focused on technical assistance and technology transfer; market development and promotion; government affairs; and applied research and development.
For more information on Highways for LIFE, visit the following Web sites:
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