Bids for eight highway projects on the Illinois Tollway system must be submitted by Feb. 2. 

Like modern chefs tweaking classic techniques, concrete industry insiders are experimenting anew with ingredients—additives and aggregates such as fly ash, slag and quarry waste—and “plating,” which includes methods such as two-lift paving and real-time smoothness monitoring.

Pavement design may become more efficient and cost-effective based on enhanced data from subgrade layers obtained by an automated plate load test.