The International Grooving and Grinding Association (IGGA) has recognized the Northwest Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) and the Wisconsin Concrete Pavement Association (WCPA) with the 2009 Concrete Pavement Restoration (CPR) Promoter of the Year Award.

According to Jim Powell, executive director of the Northwest Chapter of the ACPA, the chapter extensively promotes the use of CPR by showing customers that concrete pavements are easy to repair and last a long time. Further, the chapter has been working with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for years, and as a result, they have many miles of 50-year-old concrete that has lasted two to four times its designated life. In fact, more than 1,750,000 square-yards have been let by the WSDOT in the last year.

Additionally, WSDOT has constructed 4,653,481 square-yards of diamond grinding from 2000 to 2009 and in the past six years, 384,875 dowel bar retrofits have been installed. Additionally, 54,558 square-yards of panel replacements and 7,356,842 linear feet of joint sealing has occurred. In addition to working with the WSDOT, the Chapter also works to promote CPR in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Recently, as a result of their efforts, the first major CPR project began in Montana.

Founded in 1952, the WCPA is the oldest concrete paving association in the nation. The association promotes CPR by sharing information regarding cost savings, improved safety, prolonged life of the concrete and facts that support CPR as a green initiative.

According to Kevin McMullen, P.E., president of the WCPA, their promotional efforts have resulted in several Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) CPR projects. In fact, in the last decade, 6 million square-yards of pavement has been diamond ground in Wisconsin.

Additionally, in the last 10 years, WDOT has bid 50,614 cubic yards of pavement patching and 558,925 linear feet of partial-depth repairs.

"When we do a good job and help a state or city project become a success, it is really fun to watch them develop a second project. We are saving WDOT and its cities significant amounts of money when we do CPR," said McMullen.

According to John Roberts, IGGA executive director, this national award is a testament to the exceptional work and contributions made by these organizations during the past year in advancing the concept of concrete pavement preservation and restoration.