As Congress is writing draft legislation for infrastructure investment and associations advocate for more opportunities for concrete paving, it is important to ensure that the benefits of using concrete are fully understood and appreciated. That’s why ACPA, together with the American Cement Association (ACA) and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), recently sent a joint letter to Secretary Sean Duffy, U.S Department of Transportation. This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to working with the Administration, Congress, and state and local highway agencies to advance America’s infrastructure priorities while dispelling common myths about concrete. The letter highlights concrete’s durability, cost-effectiveness, rapid construction techniques, and essential role in building and maintaining a safe, resilient transportation system that serves every American. We stand ready to work alongside our nation’s lawmakers – put us to work, we won’t let you down. Please take a moment to read.

Cheers!

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Dear Secretary Duffy:

On behalf of the American Cement Association (ACA), the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), and the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA), we write to express our strong commitment to working with the Administration to continue building and maintaining America’s transportation infrastructure. Together, our associations represent the full breadth of the cement, ready mixed concrete, and concrete paving industries, industries that contribute billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year, directly support hundreds of thousands of American jobs, and provide the materials essential to safe, durable, and efficient transportation networks.

We share the President’s vision that a modern, resilient infrastructure system is critical to the nation’s long-term prosperity and global competitiveness. Concrete, made with cement, is the foundation of America’s built environment and the backbone of our nation’s roadways, bridges, tunnels, airports, ports, and transit systems. It is essential, versatile, and resilient, enabling today’s society to function. Every single American, in one way or another, uses concrete every single day. Not many industries can claim that. Not many can even come close to declaring such a responsibility. We are equally committed to helping elevate America’s infrastructure grades, which currently stand at a C overall and a troubling D+ for roads, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. Addressing these deficiencies is vital to ensuring a stronger, more reliable, and more sustainable future.

It is a common misperception across the country though that concrete pavements are not cost-effective or that they require lengthy lane closures. In reality, concrete is one of the most economical solutions over the life of a project, given its durability and minimal maintenance requirements. Moreover, modern construction practices and advanced paving techniques now allow for rapid placement and strength gain, meaning lanes can often be reopened to traffic within hours. These realities make concrete not only a cost-effective choice but also one that minimizes disruption to the traveling public. A fair trade for projects that will last for generations to come.

As federal and state leaders continue to advance transportation infrastructure investments, we urge recognition of the following:

• Durability and Longevity: Concrete pavements last for decades with minimal maintenance, offering unmatched performance and a high return on taxpayer investment.
• Strength and Resistance: Concrete pavements are capable of handling heavy vehicle loads common in cities and on freight corridors nationwide, concrete resists rutting and shoving—particularly in high-traffic areas such as intersections, bus lanes, and roundabouts.
• Safety: Concrete provides a skid-resistant, durable surface. Its lighter color improves nighttime visibility, reducing lighting demands and enhancing safety for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• Cost-Effectiveness: While upfront construction costs may vary, concrete’s lower life-cycle maintenance costs make it one of the most cost-effective solutions for road agencies. In fact, more than 50% of pavement life-cycle costs occur after a road first opens. Durable surfaces and lasting treatments like quality overlays protect taxpayer dollars and deliver sustained system performance.
• Technological Advancement: Ongoing innovations in concrete pavement construction allow for faster, more efficient, and higher-quality delivery, helping agencies meet modern demands.
• Resilience: Concrete pavements recover quickly from extreme weather events such as flooding and fires, enabling faster reopening for emergency response and community access.

As the Administration has recognized, streamlining permitting and supporting a balanced, high-performance transportation system will ensure that U.S. infrastructure meets the needs of future generations. Our associations stand ready to work with you on this mission.

We respectfully urge continued collaboration to prioritize durability, safety, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness in infrastructure decision-making. Together, we can build and maintain the resilient transportation network that America deserves.

American Concrete Pavement Association
National Ready-Mixed Concrete Association
American Concrete Pavement Association

Save the Date – Upcoming ACPA National Events and Chapter/State Association Workshops:

Stay up to date on upcoming industry events with ACPA’s Calendar of Events. To submit your event details, please contact Vickie Spielman at vspielman@acpa.org.

September 16, 2025        Arkansas Airfield Pavement Workshop, Little Rock AR
September 30, 2025        Indiana/Kentucky Airport Workshop, Hebron, KY
October 28-30, 2025       ACPA Airport Workshop, Charlotte, NC
November 4, 2025           Nevada Infrastructure Concrete Conference, Reno, NV
December 2-4, 2025       ACPA Annual Meeting, Carlsbad, CA
January 12, 2026              TRB Reception, Washington, DC
January 20-22, 2026       World of Concrete, Las Vegas, NV
January 26-27, 2026        Count on Concrete Conference, Raleigh, NC
February 3-4, 2026          New York State Concrete Paving Conference, Clifton Park, NY
February 12, 2026            Indiana Chapter ACPA 2026 PCCP Workshop, Indianapolis, IN
February 12-13, 2026     46^th Annual WCPA Concrete Pavement Conference, Pewaukee, WI
February 18-19, 2026     28^th Annual ACPA/PA Conference, Harrisburg, PA
February 18-19, 2026     2026 Michigan Concrete Association Annual Conference, Battle Creek, MI
February 23-25, 2026     46^th Annual Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Conference, Kansas City, MO
March 3-6, 2026               Con-Agg, Las Vegas, NV
April 22, 2026                   California Concrete Pavement Conference, Davis, CA