Simple, Green Construction Technology Improves Roadbed Carrying Capacity,Delivering Outstanding Performance and Value
Click for a copy of the presentation slide deck in PDF format.
SEVEN SPRINGS RESORT, PA (February 15,2012) – Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association members have an big need for effective, economical road building technologies due to the heavy truck traffic generated by the Marcellus Shale play.
John Nawn, P.E. Director of Engineering, for Czop-Specter consulting civil engineers in Worcester, Pa, took a step toward meeting that need with an innovative presentation at the February, PIOGA meeting at Seven Springs Resort.
“Consulting engineers are always on the lookout for more effective and economical ways to build”, said Nawn, a professional civil engineer with diverse road design and construction experience. “When I first looked into Mechanical Concrete® I saw something that was potentially strong and economical, so I looked a little deeper. It continued to look promising. So I visited with the inventor and looked at several projects where Mechanical Concrete® was used in coal mining haul roads and other applications in WV. Based on its coal road performance, I can say it’s superior to and more economical than conventional methods of building industrial roadways. Mechanical Concrete® definitely offers Marcellus drillers an alternative road building technology that is sustainable, green, economical and effective.”
Czop-Spector provides an array of essential civil engineering services to the Marcellus Shale Industry. These include access road and site design and development, environmental permitting, surveying and construction.
Mechanical Concrete® is a patented construction technology invented and developed by professional civil engineer, Samuel G. Bonasso, former WV secretary of transportation. It’s green and sustainable because it reuses a cylinder made from the tread portion of a scrap auto tire to stabilize and confine crushed stone. This increases the stone’s load carrying capacity. Collections of these cylindrical cells can be used for foundations, road bases, and retaining walls. Mechanical Concrete® is an engineered product, like regular concrete and steel and requires training and construction experience to use it appropriately. The Reinforced Aggregates Company offers a consulting engineer certification program to engineering companies interested in designing with the technology. “Our R & D has involved lab and field testing as well as diverse demonstration projects. Engineers, who want to design with Mechanical Concrete®, need to thoroughly understand the physical principles involved and how to specify and monitor its installation,” according to Bonasso. “Even though it’s simple, the design and construction must follow a process to assure that the customers get what they pay for—which is an effective economical road, pad or retaining wall. I’m very happy Czop-Specter has taken an interest in Mechanical Concrete®.”