News
County Department Receives Award for Porous Paving Project
Jan 14, 2005 by Cail Hammons
Transportation and Public Works recognized by state organization
The Athens-Clarke County Department of Transportation and Public Works was selected by the Georgia Chapter of the American Concrete Institute to receive the Outstanding Achievement Award. The award highlights innovative concrete paving projects constructed within the last year. The department was recognized for its work with porous concrete at the Athens transit facility.
ACC Transportation and Public Works staff designed and oversaw the installation of a porous concrete parking area at the facility. Unlike traditional concrete and other impervious paving materials, porous concrete is designed to allow stormwater to be absorbed by the paving surface and infiltrate into the ground below. Stormwater that runs off impervious concrete can include high levels of pollution from motor oil, petroleum and other contaminants.
Transit buses often park on the new porous concrete area and can create a significant amount of automotive waste. When it rains, these pollutants wash off traditional concrete and into area streams. But porous concrete acts as a filter, removing harmful pollutants from stormwater before it is discharged back into the watershed.
One goal of the project was to use the porous parking lot as an educational tool for area professionals. Several groups learned about the project through site visits in 2004. An open house in June drew industry professionals from across the state. Landscape architects from the University of Georgia evaluated the project later that month as part of an educational workshop. In August, the Georgia Water and Pollution Control Association featured the project for its quarterly training session.
Founded in 1904, the American Concrete Institute is a technical and educational society dedicated to improving the design, construction, maintenance and repair of concrete structures. The Outstanding Achievement award will be presented to department representatives at a ceremony later this month.
Tagged: acc transportation and public works, american concrete institute, porous concrete, georgia water and pollution control association
