Alessandro Miranda. Engineer and entrepreneur, writes on the blog www.lideracaemais.com.brDisclosure
Published 01/05/2024 00:00
While in the United States and Europe concrete has been used for around 80 years in places with heavy vehicle traffic, such as highways, bus lanes and airports, in Brazil, the most commonly used solution for paving continues to be asphalt. Little by little, however, this begins to change.
Some managers have already realized that, despite the healing time and the higher initial cost, the investment pays off in the long term. After all, the longer useful life of concrete – 30 to 40 years – doesn’t even compare to that of asphalt, which lasts 10 to 20 years, depending on the volume of traffic at the site.
As it is more resistant to deterioration caused by climate change, including rain, snow and extreme temperatures, concrete is less susceptible to permanent deformation, which means less need for frequent repairs, meaning significant savings in the medium and long term.
Another advantage over asphalt is the reduced environmental impact. The concrete production process consumes less energy than asphalt and generates less waste. Furthermore, concrete reflects more sunlight than asphalt, reducing the phenomenon known as “urban heat island” and contributing to the reduction of temperatures in urban areas. Because concrete is more durable, it also reduces the need for frequent reconstruction, which minimizes material and energy consumption associated with road maintenance.
Concrete roads offer a more stable and even surface compared to asphalt. This results in a smoother and more comfortable drive for drivers, as well as reducing the risk of accidents. Concrete is also less likely to form pools of water, which contributes to road safety, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Therefore, when planning and constructing roads, concrete should be considered as the preferred choice to promote the sustainability, safety and efficiency of the transportation system.
Alessandro Miranda
Engineer, entrepreneur and writes on the blog www.lideracaemais.com.br
