| CONCRETE ROADS
In brief, in Turkey highway transportation has vital importance in the economy of the country. For 50 years asphalt has been the only material used in the construction of the highways that is of utmost importance for the country. Major part of asphalt is purchased from Tüpraş and mainly used in maintenance and repair works; 1.3 billion is spent annually for the maintenance and repair of highways and bridges. (The revenue is only 250 million) For each kilometre of the highway (including bridges) 500,000 dollars is year is spent for maintenance.
Why has Turkey always preferred asphalt at the highways until now? The reasons can be listed as: a definite technology level and experience is gained in asphalt coating that gradually spread as of 1950; until the petroleum crisis in 1973 bitumen was cheap; application of asphalt concrete was regarded as easier. But due to the sudden increase in the petroleum prices in 1973 the share of bitumen in asphalt concrete unit price raised to 30 %, ,n 1976 to 45 % and thus asphalt started to loose its advantages from the point of raw material (bitumen) cost. Today, it is gradually becoming more difficult to get quality bitumen from the 5 refineries in Turkey and also the transportation of this product is an important problem.
The main solution alternative is to make roads from substances whose basic material comes from our own resources, which is more durable and requires less maintenance and at remarkably less cost. This alternative is concrete roads.
Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, The General Directorate for Highways and our municipalities, in other words the institutes in Turkey to decide on road constructions, have to make relevant plans by taking concrete into consideration, the new choice in road constructions, just like other countries.
ADVANTAGES OF CONCRETE ROADS
 The structural lives of Concrete Roads are long.
The most important advantage of concrete coating tested is the long service life and superior durability. For example, in a research in USA where the performance of interstate highways have been monitored and recorded for years, the service life of concrete roads (period for maintenance need) were around 20-25 years whereas for asphalt roads the result was 6-14 years. According to another survey the expected life of concrete roads are 34 years and 17 years (just the half) for asphalt roads. This survey also revealed that for asphalt roads the minor maintenance cycle is every 3-5 years and rehabilitation at every 17 years whereas on the other hand the minor maintenance cycle for concrete roads is every 12 years and the readjusting after 18 years. In Turkey almost a quarter of the asphalt roads are renewed at every four years. The major part of the annual budget, 2 billion TL) of the General Directorate for Highways is spent on maintenance and repair.
Asphalt roads, very frequently require maintenance and repair. When concrete roads are in question the frequency for maintenance and repair is seldom.
Made with 100 % Local Material
Concrete roads, a highway alternative that can be made at a low cost with the own resources of Turkey has been neglected until today. Although there are over 40 cement factories, 20 grinding facilities, 800 concrete plants spread all around Turkey there are only 5 refineries from where asphalt (bitumen) can be obtained. Remarkable portion of the asphalt is imported. Everyone related with road building in Turkey has to take concrete into consideration as a solution since the country, with limited economic resources, has to utilise all the sources carefully and without any waste.
First Production Cost is not High
As a result of a survey we have executed the cost of concrete road building in our country has been proven to be cheaper. According to the comparison of first production costs,
(according to the data of February 2009):
- Asphalt Road = 694 964 TL / km
- Concrete Road = 704 373.90 TL / km (27 cm concrete slab + 5 cm interface)
- Concrete Road = 643 824.60 TL / km (32 cm concrete slab)
Depending on design, the cost of the concrete road that would carry the same traffic load can be cheaper.
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