In a past life of mine at another trucking and transport publication in another part of the world, we had a columnist who bemoaned how interested parties showed no hesitation “pouring concrete” in their approach to infrastructure development. His point, as he tried to make as often as he could, was that we didn’t need bigger buildings, wider roads or additional rail lines – we just needed to make better use of the ones we already had.

In a way, it’s hard to argue with that. Among the failings of the human condition is that we like big, new, flashy things, yet we are also prone to waste and so often don’t make full use of something before moving onto the next big, new, flashy thing. In general, we could be a whole lot more efficient in most aspects of life.

In another way, it’s easy to argue. The world today is not the world of 20, 40 or 60 years ago and when needs change or technology moves on to create better ways of doing things, people absolutely expect the ‘world’ in which they live to change as well and serve their needs. (That itself is a minefield of a topic for another time…)

But what about the New Zealand context? Well it’s no secret much of the country’s infrastructure is ageing, while its population growth is trending upwards at around 1-2% per year. Our overall numbers may be low in the global context, but our growth rate is ‘healthy’, even exceeding many European countries (comparing various sources).

Hospitals, housing, roading, power … all are consistently in the headlines. No question, New Zealand needs to ‘pour’ a lot of concrete. And we need to do it in a cost-effective, sustainable, long-term way. So what about the latest report The Case for Concrete Roads, launched this week by Transport Minister Simeon Brown, commissioned by Concrete New Zealand and undertaken by Infometrics?

Firstly, I’m naturally cynical of any report commissioned by a party that has a stake in the matter, especially when the results stack in its favour. The report itself states it “takes a positive view of the future of concrete roading”, but shutting down my inner cynic for a moment, there seems to be some merit here.

The report states that over their life concrete roads could be an average of 17.5% more cost effective to build and maintain, may have a lower carbon footprint, offer reduced rolling resistance and thus better fuel efficiency, and can reduce the greenhouse gas effect by reflecting radiation through something called the ‘albedo effect’.

We know too that concrete roads are more durable and ideally suited to areas of high and heavy traffic. Concrete roading is also being trialled in some areas.

Now, without actually going out doing my own reading and drawing my own conclusions, taking the above at face value this ‘new’ approach would seem to be a no-brainer. If a section of road is known to take a battering or is reaching the point of rehabilitation, why not try a different, seemingly promising construction method?

Anecdotally, back in that past life in another part of the world, one section of high-traffic motorway was, for obvious reasons, known as ‘the concrete highway’. It was constructed decades before I was born and I honestly don’t recall a time when it underwent any major maintenance, or suffered pockmarks and potholes. Many similar concrete highways around the world would probably have performed just as well. So, maybe, if everything stacks up as the report says it should, we should consider pouring some concrete.

Take care out there,

Gavin Myers

Editor